E Tech Group sees 400% rise in IT/OT assessments
Manufacturers are prioritizing infrastructure visibility, cybersecurity and operational readiness to advance modernization, AI initiatives and reduce hidden production risk, according to E Tech Group, provider of industrial automation and systems integration, the Control System Integrator Association (CSIA) 2025 System Integrator of the Year and Platinum-certified Rockwell Automation partner.
Over the past year, E Tech Group reports 400% growth in IT/OT assessment and remediation work as manufacturers increasingly evaluate whether existing manufacturing infrastructure can accommodate modernization, digital transformation and AI initiatives (Figure 1).
"Manufacturers are moving quickly on AI and modernization initiatives, but many industrial environments were never designed to handle the level of connectivity, visibility and resilience those technologies require," said Matt Wise, CEO of E Tech Group. "Manufacturers are finding that modernization efforts move much faster when foundational OT and network issues are addressed early."
E Tech Group's IT/OT assessments provide manufacturers with a vendor-neutral evaluation of plant environments, including network architecture, cybersecurity exposure, system health, asset visibility and integration readiness. The assessments are designed to help organizations identify vulnerabilities, reduce downtime risk and prioritize remediation and upgrade efforts through a structured remediation roadmap.
E Tech Group's team includes professionals with advanced IT certifications including CISSP, Cisco CCNP, VMware Certified Professional (VCP) and GIAC cybersecurity certifications.
"Traditional IT firms often lack the operational technology expertise required to safely navigate manufacturing environments, while many OT-focused integrators do not possess the advanced IT and cybersecurity capabilities necessary to support secure, scalable digital transformation initiatives," said E Tech Group's IT/OT Cybersecurity Engineering Lead Brian Gifford, CISSP, PMP, MBA.
E Tech Group has developed internal tools and standardized methodologies designed to streamline assessment execution, improve reporting consistency and minimize disruption to plant operations.
"Many manufacturers still lack clear visibility into what actually exists within their OT environment," said Eric Medecke, director of IT/OT solutions at E Tech Group. "We frequently uncover outdated infrastructure, unsupported hardware, flat networks or direct IT-to-OT exposure that creates operational and cybersecurity risk. Assessments help organizations prioritize remediation efforts before larger technology investments."
Manufacturers turn to IT/OT assessments following acquisitions, facility expansions, workforce transitions and cybersecurity insurance reviews, particularly when system documentation is incomplete or institutional knowledge has been lost.
In one recent engagement, E Tech Group reports it had identified infrastructure risks at a life sciences facility preparing for modernization. The assessment revealed legacy network limitations and system vulnerabilities. In another engagement, E Tech Group reports that its assessment and remediation recommendations helped secure the OT environment of a food and beverage manufacturer prior to a cybersecurity incident affecting the company's enterprise network.
