S4x26, MIAMI – Feb. 24, 2026 – A recently created technique for assessing the impact of an OT cybersecurity incident may help illuminate risk and business implications while opening the door to more precise measurement and event response. According to Dale Peterson, co-creator of the OTI model and head of ICS/OT consulting and research firm Digital Bond, the Operational Technology Incident (OTI) Impact Score, which will be unveiled today at the ICS/OT industry's S4x26 Conference in Miami, aims to quickly clarify the true effects of OT cyber incidents, which are frequently over- or under-hyped.

Peterson, the founder and program chair of S4, said the OTI model, which draws inspiration from the Richter Scale used to measure earthquake intensity and impact, is intended for OT business executives, governments, cyber insurers, the media, and the general public. "Politicians, business owners, the media, and the general public don't understand the impact in an OT attack," says Peterson. The OTI Impact Scores are defined as follows: Source: OTI Impact Score According to industry experts, the OTI would help change the focus of the discussion to the business impact of an OT incident—a crucial component that is frequently overlooked in the haze of event reporting.

According to Sarah Fluchs, chief technology officer (CTO) of OT cybersecurity consultancy Admeritia, there is frequently discussion or misunderstanding regarding whether a cyberattack on an industrial organization qualifies as a pure OT incident, particularly if the attack did not reach the OT network. Related: Three Serious Issues Found in Delta Industrial PLCs According to Fluchs, "it doesn't really matter if it was an incident targeted at OT" or not. "The impact on the business, the population, or the company is what counts, and that's what we ought to be discussing.

Not if it's an OT, IT, or any other kind of incident.Additionally, there are instances where a well-publicized OT incident is detected and halted, but it still receives unfavorable coverage.