Emerson & OPSWAT strike global reseller deal for OT patching

OPSWAT and Emerson have signed a global reseller agreement that begins with the addition of OPSWAT patch management technology to Emerson's Ovation Automation Platform.

The agreement covers Emerson customers in the power and water sectors, where operators face growing concern over cyber attacks and unpatched vulnerabilities in industrial systems.

In the first phase of the partnership, Emerson will integrate OPSWAT's operational technology patch management tools into Ovation, its automation platform for critical infrastructure. The arrangement builds on earlier work to secure Ovation through OPSWAT's MetaDefender Endpoint and My OPSWAT Central Management On-Premises, both already included in Emerson's cybersecurity offering for power and water operators.

The move is aimed at customers that need patching tools designed for operational technology environments rather than adapted from office IT systems. These environments often combine older industrial assets with newer digital systems, making software updates harder to manage without disrupting operations.

Critical infrastructure operators in electricity generation, water, and wastewater have become an increasing target for cyber criminals and state-backed attackers. At the same time, regulators are applying greater scrutiny to security controls in essential services, adding pressure on operators to address known weaknesses while maintaining plant availability.

Emerson sells the Ovation Automation Platform globally, and more than 800 sites already use cybersecurity technologies developed for critical industries, including power, water, and wastewater. The new agreement expands an existing relationship between the two companies under the DeltaV Alliance, which covers OPSWAT's MetaDefender Kiosk and MetaDefender Unidirectional Security Gateway for the DeltaV Automation Platform.

Industry focus

The latest deal centres on the practical challenges of patching in industrial environments. Unlike standard IT networks, operational technology systems often run continuously and support physical processes where downtime can affect safety, output, and public services.

That creates a difficult balance for operators, who must close security gaps without interrupting control systems that manage power stations, water treatment facilities, and other essential infrastructure. Vendors across the sector have increasingly promoted specialist tools that assess, test, and apply updates in ways intended to reduce operational risk.

"Our customers need cybersecurity solutions designed specifically for operational technology-not adapted from IT," said Robert Yeager, President of Emerson's power and water solutions business. "They benefit from purpose-built OT cybersecurity solutions that protect critical, real-time industrial systems while supporting availability, performance, and safe operations. 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."

For OPSWAT, the agreement provides access to a broader installed base of utilities and industrial operators through Emerson's channel and product portfolio. The company focuses on cybersecurity products for critical infrastructure, particularly in environments where conventional IT security models do not fit easily.

Broader threats

The deal also reflects a broader shift in industrial cybersecurity, as automation and digital transformation connect more operational assets to software and data systems. That expansion has created more entry points for attackers, while many operators still rely on a mix of legacy technologies that were not originally designed to withstand modern cyber threats.

Utilities are under growing pressure to improve resilience against ransomware and more targeted attacks. In practice, that has increased interest in tools for secure remote access, network segmentation, removable media protection, and patching controls tailored to operational systems.

"As LLMs, automation, and digital transformation accelerate across power and water infrastructure, the attack surface expands just as quickly," said Benny Czarny, Founder and CEO of OPSWAT. "In environments where safety and availability are mission critical, cybersecurity cannot rely on traditional IT assumptions but must be deterministic, scalable, and engineered specifically for OT realities. 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."

The partnership also aligns with Emerson's broader strategy of working with specialist cybersecurity providers as regulations evolve and new vulnerabilities continue to emerge.