THE FRAMEWORK
How the assessment works
The Planaletix OT Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment (OTC) is a structured, evidence-based maturity evaluation designed to quantify, profile and benchmark the operational technology cybersecurity programme maturity of GCC critical infrastructure organizations. It evaluates OT security across 16 dimensions encompassing governance, technical controls, process management and human factors — producing a scored maturity profile against a five-level framework grounded in IEC 62443, Saudi NCA OT-CSC, the UAE TRA ICS Cybersecurity Standard, NERC CIP, IEC 61511, NIST SP 800-82 Rev.3 and MITRE ATT&CK for ICS.
Many critical infrastructure operators have initiated OT security programmes, but few have access to a structured, independently designed and GCC-calibrated instrument that quantifies their actual programme maturity, benchmarks it against sector peers and produces the prioritized roadmap required to move from a reactive to a proactive OT security posture.
Safety first, then availability, then security. The OTC evaluates security capabilities within the operational constraints of OT environments — security controls that compromise safety function performance or operational availability are not solutions, they are governance failures.
16 DIMENSIONS · 160 QUESTIONS
Explore the dimensions and maturity levels
WHO IT IS FOR
Built for the leaders accountable for OT security
The OTC is designed for the leaders accountable for the security and resilience of operational technology:
- CISOs and OT Security Managers requiring an independent maturity baseline and a GCC-benchmarked view of programme gaps
- Chief Risk Officers and Audit Committees assessing OT risk posture, regulatory compliance and the investment required to stay within risk appetite
- CEOs and Managing Directors seeking an independent view of OT readiness against the threat landscape facing GCC critical infrastructure
- VP Operations, Plant Managers and OT Engineering leadership evaluating the security implications of IIoT and IT/OT convergence
- Boards and investment committees in energy, utilities, water and transportation
- GCC government and sovereign entities pursuing critical infrastructure protection across their asset portfolios
- Private equity firms and strategic investors assessing OT security in industrial due diligence and M&A
The OTC evaluates OT cybersecurity programme maturity at the organizational level — all significant OT environments, including primary production facilities, remote sites, offshore platforms and contractor-managed environments where the organization holds security governance accountability. It applies to oil and gas, power generation and transmission, water and wastewater, transportation and any industrial sector deploying SCADA, DCS, PLC, RTU, SIS, historian and IIoT platforms where incidents can have physical, safety, environmental or operational consequences.
STANDARDS ALIGNMENT
Mapped to the OT standards you are measured against
The framework draws from and aligns with international OT standards, GCC regulation and sector guidance:
- IEC 62443 series — the primary technical compliance baseline for OT security governance
- IEC 61511 — functional safety for Safety Instrumented Systems, addressed in the Safety-Security Convergence dimension
- NIST SP 800-82 Rev.3 — Guide to Operational Technology Security
- MITRE ATT&CK for ICS — used in the detection, monitoring and incident response dimensions
- IEC 62443-2-1 (CSMS) certification — the Level 4–5 governance credential
- CERT Insider Threat Program Evaluation Framework (Carnegie Mellon SEI)
- Saudi Arabia NCA OT-CSC — mandatory OT controls for Saudi critical infrastructure
- UAE TDRA ICS Cybersecurity Standard
- NERC CIP Standards (CIP-002 to CIP-014)
WAYS TO TAKE IT
Two ways to take the assessment
THE FRAMEWORK AT A GLANCE
OT Cybersecurity: all 16 dimensions
- D1 OT Cybersecurity Governance & Risk Management — 14%
- D2 OT Asset Inventory, Classification & Configuration Management — 7%
- D3 OT Network Security, Segmentation & Zone-Conduit Architecture — 14%
- D4 OT Identity, Access & Remote Access Management — 7%
- D5 OT System Hardening, Secure Config & Integrity Management — 8%
- D6 OT Vulnerability Management & Patch Governance — 7%
- D7 OT Security Monitoring, Detection & SOC Operations — 7%
- D8 OT Incident Response, Backup, Recovery & Resilience — 7%
- D9 OT Supply Chain & Third-Party Security — 5%
- D10 OT Security Culture & Behavioural Maturity — 4%
- D11 OT Regulatory Compliance & Standards Alignment — 3%
- D12 OT Physical Security & Environmental Protection — 3%
- D13 OT/IT Convergence, Cloud & Digital Transformation Security — 3%
- D14 OT Workforce Competency & Certification — 4%
- D15 OT Insider Threat & Human Risk Management — 4%
- D16 OT Safety-Security Convergence & Secure Change Lifecycle — 3%
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
What does the assessment cover?
Sixteen weighted domains across governance, technical controls, process management and human factors — from governance, asset inventory and segmentation to monitoring, incident response, supply chain, insider threat and safety-security convergence — 160 structured questions in total.
How is the score calculated?
Each dimension is scored on a five-level maturity scale and weighted into an overall score. Governance, segmentation, hardening and insider threat are Critical Threshold dimensions that cap the overall level when absent.
Which standards does it use?
IEC 62443, IEC 61511, NIST SP 800-82 Rev.3, MITRE ATT&CK for ICS, Saudi NCA OT-CSC, the UAE TDRA ICS Cybersecurity Standard and NERC CIP.
What do we receive?
An executive summary with priorities, a maturity profile, per-dimension findings, sector and regional benchmarking, and a 6–12 month action plan with the top five priorities, a capability roadmap, governance and operating-model and resourcing recommendations.
Online or with a consultant?
Take the online self-assessment (USD 5,500) or ask for a consultation assessment scoped to your OT estate. Contact info@planaletix.com for a consultation.