The Air Force is preparing to implement zero trust cybersecurity principles in its operational technology environments, ensuring better protection from outside security threats. The Pentagon has required the services to follow those guidelines by the end of 2027. 

Zero trust principles entail checks at every level to verify identity and protect all information. While these principles are simpler to implement for laptops and private networks, the Air Force has shared the challenges of implementing them with operational technology systems, Breaking Defense reported. 

“[OT systems are] typically not connected, so you can’t see them every day, you don’t know what’s happening with them,” said Air Force Chief Information Security Officer Aaron Bishop.  

While IT systems can be updated easily, operational technology is more obfuscated. Bishop said that protecting operational technology is an imperative, although it will take more time to implement. 

Air Force photo by Laura Virtue