Industrial control systems run the backbone of our modern world — from power grids and water treatment plants to manufacturing floors and transportation networks.

These Operational Technology (OT) environments face cybersecurity threats that traditional IT approaches simply cannot address. If you’re responsible for securing industrial systems, asset inventory isn’t just a best practice — it’s the foundation of everything you do.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

By the end of this article, you’ll understand why OT asset inventory differs fundamentally from IT inventory, how to apply CISA’s structured methodology to identify and catalog your industrial control system assets, and practical steps you can take immediately to improve your security posture.

We’ll cover the unique challenges OT environments present, common mistakes that derail inventory efforts, and how proper asset visibility translates to real-world safety and reliability improvements.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Know First

Before diving in, you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert. This guide assumes you have basic familiarity with industrial control systems concept — whether you work in operations, IT, or security roles.