---
title: "CISA & Global Partners Release AI Security Guidelines for OT Systems"
short_title: "AI security guidelines for operational technology"
description: "CISA and global partners unveil critical AI security principles for OT systems. Learn how to integrate AI securely into critical infrastructure while mitigating risks."
author: "Vitus"
date: 2025-01-24
categories: [Cybersecurity, AI]
tags: [ai security, operational technology, cisa, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity guidelines]
score: 0.78
cve_ids: []
---
TL;DR
CISA, alongside the Australian Signals Directorate and international partners, has released joint guidance on securely integrating AI into operational technology (OT) systems. The principles aim to balance AI’s benefits—such as efficiency and cost savings—with the unique risks it poses to critical infrastructure. Organizations are urged to adopt these guidelines to enhance security and resilience in OT environments.
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Main Content
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in operational technology (OT) systems presents unprecedented opportunities for efficiency, decision-making, and cost reduction. However, it also introduces significant security risks that could compromise the safety, reliability, and integrity of critical infrastructure. To address these challenges, CISA, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC), and other global partners have released a comprehensive guidance document: [Principles for the Secure Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Operational Technology](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/principles-secure-integration-artificial-intelligence-operational-technology).
This guidance is designed to help critical infrastructure owners and operators navigate the complexities of AI integration while mitigating potential threats. It focuses on machine learning (ML), large language models (LLMs), and AI agents, but its principles are also applicable to traditional statistical modeling and logic-based automation.
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Key Points
1. Understand AI Risks and Benefits
- Educate personnel on AI risks, impacts, and secure development lifecycles.
- Balance the efficiency and cost-saving benefits of AI with its potential threats to OT security.
2. Assess AI Use in OT Environments
- Evaluate business cases for AI integration in OT systems.
- Manage OT data security risks and address both immediate and long-term challenges.
3. Establish Robust AI Governance
- Implement governance frameworks to oversee AI deployment.
- Continuously test AI models and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
4. Embed Safety and Security into AI Systems
- Maintain human oversight and transparency in AI decision-making.
- Integrate AI into incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and mitigation of threats.
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Technical Details
#### Focus Areas of the Guidance
The document prioritizes three critical AI technologies due to their complex security challenges:
- Machine Learning (ML): AI systems that learn from data to improve performance over time.
- Large Language Models (LLMs): AI models capable of processing and generating human-like text.
- AI Agents: Autonomous systems that perform tasks or make decisions without direct human intervention.
While the guidance emphasizes these technologies, it also applies to traditional statistical modeling and logic-based automation systems.
#### Core Principles for Secure AI Integration
1. AI Education and Awareness
- Organizations must train personnel on AI risks, including adversarial attacks, data poisoning, and model bias.
- Secure development lifecycles should be adopted to minimize vulnerabilities during AI system design and deployment.
2. AI Use Case Evaluation
- Conduct risk assessments to evaluate the necessity and security implications of AI in OT environments.
- Address data security risks, such as unauthorized access or manipulation of sensitive OT data.
3. Governance and Compliance
- Develop governance frameworks to ensure AI systems align with organizational and regulatory requirements.
- Implement continuous testing of AI models to detect and mitigate vulnerabilities.
4. Safety and Security by Design
- Ensure human oversight of AI systems to prevent unintended consequences.
- Integrate AI into incident response plans to enable rapid threat detection and response.
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Impact Assessment
#### Why This Guidance Matters
Critical infrastructure sectors—such as energy, water, transportation, and manufacturing—rely heavily on OT systems to manage physical processes. The integration of AI into these systems can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making. However, it also introduces new attack vectors that could disrupt essential services or cause physical harm.
Key risks include:
- Adversarial Attacks: Malicious actors could manipulate AI models to produce incorrect outputs, leading to system failures.
- Data Poisoning: Attackers may corrupt training data to compromise AI system integrity.
- Lack of Transparency: AI decision-making processes can be opaque, making it difficult to detect or respond to threats.
By adopting the principles outlined in this guidance, organizations can mitigate these risks while leveraging AI’s transformative potential.
#### Global Collaboration for a Secure Future
This initiative highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing cybersecurity challenges. By partnering with agencies like ASD’s ACSC, CISA demonstrates a unified approach to securing critical infrastructure against evolving threats.
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Conclusion
The joint guidance released by CISA and its global partners provides a critical framework for securely integrating AI into operational technology systems. As AI adoption accelerates, organizations must prioritize security, governance, and transparency to protect critical infrastructure from emerging threats.
Critical infrastructure owners and operators are encouraged to review the full guidance and implement its principles to maximize AI’s benefits while minimizing risks. For further resources, visit CISA’s [Artificial Intelligence](https://www.cisa.gov/ai) and [Industrial Control Systems](https://www.cisa.gov/topics/industrial-control-systems) webpages.
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References
[^1]: CISA. "[Principles for the Secure Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Operational Technology](https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/principles-secure-integration-artificial-intelligence-operational-technology)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^2]: CISA. "[Artificial Intelligence](https://www.cisa.gov/ai)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.
[^3]: Australian Signals Directorate. "[Australian Cyber Security Centre](https://www.cyber.gov.au/)". Retrieved 2025-01-24.