TXOne Networks
The OT trends 2026 and 2027
At the end of the year, TXOne Networks looks at the development of OT cyber security and identifies key trends for 2026 and 2027. The focus is on new EU regulations such as the Cyber Resilience Act, increasing time pressure for machine and plant manufacturers and the shift towards active, integrated and measurable OT security approaches.
The OT security experts at TXOne Networks see industrial companies facing a profound change. The end of support for Windows 10, stricter regulatory requirements in the EU and the growing threat of ransomware are significantly increasing the pressure to act.
"Many systems in production operate with controllers that run on Windows 10 and older. As Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows 10 in October 2025, newly discovered vulnerabilities will no longer be fixed. This makes it all the more important to protect these systems and their machines against new threats," says Morris Becker, Regional Director DACH. At the same time, the legal requirements are becoming stricter: "From December 2027, the EU's full CRA (Cyber Resilience Act) must even be implemented so that machines and systems can still receive the CE mark," Becker continues.
In terms of technology, there is a clear trend away from purely passive visibility towards active defense. "Passive solutions only show what is happening in the network, but they don't stop attacks," adds Canaan Kao, Threat Research Director. Ransomware remains the biggest threat to OT environments, while AI opens up new opportunities for both attackers and defenders.
For machine builders, 2026 will be a decisive year. Giorgio Santandrea, OEM & Machine Builder Director Europe, explains: "From 2027, every new machine delivered in the EU must include a solution ex works that mitigates the risks of cybersecurity incidents and defends against cyberattacks."
There are also clear trends in the channel: IT-OT convergence and managed OT security services are gaining in importance. According to TXOne, the DACH region is also increasingly establishing itself as a security policy stability factor in Europe. Overall, OT security is increasingly being seen as a measurable component of risk management. "Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury, it has become a business necessity - especially in production environments, where the top priority is reliability," concludes Becker.
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