OPSWAT, a specialist in critical infrastructure cybersecurity, has entered into a global strategic reseller agreement with industrial automation firm Emerson, in a move aimed at strengthening cyber resilience across power and water systems.
The partnership will see OPSWAT’s cybersecurity technologies deployed to Emerson’s customers worldwide, with the first phase focusing on integrating operational technology (OT) patch management capabilities into Emerson’s Ovation™ Automation Platform.
The agreement comes at a time when operators of essential services, including power generation and water utilities, are facing increasing cyber threats, regulatory scrutiny and operational risks linked to unpatched vulnerabilities.
Unlike traditional IT environments, industrial systems often rely on a mix of legacy and modern technologies, making patch management both complex and high-risk. Downtime or disruption in such environments can have significant real-world consequences, from power outages to water supply interruptions.
What You Need to Know
By embedding OPSWAT’s purpose-built OT cybersecurity solutions into the Ovation platform, the companies aim to provide a more secure and scalable approach to managing vulnerabilities without compromising system availability.
As part of the collaboration, Emerson will incorporate OPSWAT’s patch management solution alongside its existing cybersecurity suite for Ovation, which already includes technologies such as MetaDefender Endpoint™ and My OPSWAT™ Central Management On-Premises.
The enhanced offering is designed specifically for operational technology environments, where security solutions must account for real-time processes, safety requirements and continuous system performance.
“Collaborating with OPSWAT enhances our ability to help operators protect their Ovation Automation Platform with a modern, OT appropriate approach to patch management. It reflects our commitment to delivering proven, efficient, best-in-class protection for critical infrastructure,” said Robert Yeager, President, Emerson’s power and water solutions business.
A Shift Towards Prevention-First Cybersecurity
For OPSWAT, the partnership represents an opportunity to embed its “prevention-first” cybersecurity model into one of the industry’s most widely deployed automation platforms.
“Partnering with Emerson allows us to embed that prevention-first philosophy directly into one of the world’s most trusted automation platforms. This is not simply about patching vulnerabilities. It is about fortifying the resilience and continuity of the essential systems that power modern society,” said Benny Czarny, Founder and CEO, OPSWAT.
The latest agreement builds on an established collaboration between the two companies under the DeltaV™ Alliance programme, where OPSWAT technologies such as MetaDefender Kiosk™ and MetaDefender Unidirectional Security Gateway™ have been deployed within Emerson’s DeltaV automation platform.
The expansion into the Ovation platform reflects a broader effort to extend cybersecurity coverage across Emerson’s portfolio of industrial solutions.
Currently, the Ovation Automation Platform is deployed at more than 800 sites globally, supporting critical operations in power generation and water management.
Strategic Response to Regulatory and Market Pressures
The partnership also aligns with a broader shift in the industry, as operators face tightening regulatory requirements and increasing pressure to strengthen cyber resilience.
Governments and regulators worldwide are introducing stricter standards for critical infrastructure protection, while the rise of ransomware and nation-state cyber activity has heightened the urgency for robust security frameworks.
For Emerson, collaborating with specialised cybersecurity providers such as OPSWAT is part of a wider strategy to address these evolving risks through integrated, purpose-built solutions.
As digital transformation accelerates across industrial sectors, the convergence of automation and cybersecurity is becoming increasingly critical.
The Emerson–OPSWAT partnership highlights the growing importance of securing operational technology environments, where vulnerabilities can have direct physical and economic impacts.
With cyber threats continuing to evolve, the success of such collaborations will depend on their ability to deliver scalable, reliable and industry-specific protections that safeguard essential services while maintaining operational continuity.
Talking Points
It is significant that Emerson is integrating cybersecurity directly into its automation platform rather than treating it as a separate layer, reflecting how critical infrastructure security is evolving.
This approach acknowledges a core reality: traditional IT security models are not sufficient for operational technology environments where uptime, safety, and real-time performance are non-negotiable.
At Techparley, we see this partnership as part of a broader shift towards OT-native cybersecurity, solutions designed specifically for industrial systems rather than adapted from enterprise IT frameworks.
The focus on patch management is particularly important. Unpatched vulnerabilities remain one of the biggest entry points for cyberattacks in power and water systems, making this a high-impact intervention.
By embedding OPSWAT’s capabilities into the Ovation platform, Emerson is effectively reducing the operational burden on infrastructure operators who would otherwise manage security across fragmented systems.
As digital transformation accelerates across critical infrastructure, the attack surface will continue to expand, making proactive and preventive security models increasingly essential.
With this collaboration, Emerson and OPSWAT are positioning themselves at the centre of securing industrial systems that underpin modern economies.
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