Top OT Threat Actors to Watch in 2025

The Rising Threat Landscape for OT Systems

The security of Operational Technology (OT) is an increasingly vital issue in the modern industrial ecosystem. As industries become more interconnected and digital transformation accelerates, the vulnerabilities in OT environments become more apparent. OT systems, including industrial control systems (ICS), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and IoT devices, are integral to sectors like manufacturing, energy, utilities, and transportation. However, these systems were often designed with little consideration for cybersecurity, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.

In 2025, OT security is expected to face a new set of challenges, with more sophisticated adversaries targeting critical infrastructure. The threat actors that target these systems have evolved in complexity and intent, making it imperative for organizations to understand the emerging threat landscape and prepare accordingly.

This blog post will take a closer look at the top OT threat actors to watch in 2025. We will explore the tactics, techniques, and motivations behind these actors and provide strategies for defending against them.

The Growing Target: Why OT Systems Are Attractive to Threat Actors

OT systems were historically isolated from IT networks, often due to their critical nature and reliance on older technologies. However, the digital transformation has resulted in OT systems becoming increasingly interconnected with IT systems, providing cybercriminals with more opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities.

Reasons OT Systems Are Vulnerable:

• Legacy Systems: Many OT systems run on outdated software with known vulnerabilities that are no longer supported by the vendors.
• Lack of Segmentation: Many OT networks are poorly segmented from IT networks, which allows attackers to move laterally between the two.
• Limited Security Measures: The primary focus of OT systems has traditionally been availability and functionality, rather than security. Many systems lack advanced cybersecurity measures such as multi-factor authentication or intrusion detection systems.
• Remote Access: Remote access to OT systems, either for maintenance or operational purposes, has become a common target for cybercriminals looking to exploit unsecured connections.

As the attack surface increases, so does the sophistication of the threat actors targeting these environments.

Top OT Threat Actors to Watch in 2025

In 2025, the threat landscape for OT systems will be shaped by both state-sponsored and financially motivated cybercriminal groups, as well as insider threats and hacktivists. These actors pose a significant risk to the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of OT systems.

1. APT Groups (Advanced Persistent Threats)

Overview:
APT groups are highly skilled, well-funded, and persistent cyber adversaries that often target critical infrastructure in OT environments. They typically operate with specific political or strategic objectives, often under the direction of nation-states.

Notable APT Groups to Watch in 2025:

• APT33 (aka Refined Kitten): Linked to Iran, APT33 has historically targeted energy sectors, including petrochemical and oil infrastructure. They are known to deploy destructive malware and ransomware to disrupt operations. APT33 is expected to continue targeting OT systems in 2025, particularly in industries related to energy and manufacturing.
• APT29 (aka Cozy Bear): A Russian state-sponsored group, APT29 has a history of targeting critical infrastructure, including energy and government sectors. They have been known to leverage sophisticated phishing campaigns and advanced malware to infiltrate networks.
• Charming Kitten: Another Iranian group, Charming Kitten has targeted both government and energy sectors globally. Their cyber espionage activities are expected to increase in 2025, with a focus on industrial operations and intellectual property theft.

Techniques Employed by APTs:

• Spearphishing (T1566): Targeting specific individuals within OT organizations to gain initial access.
• Exploitation of Remote Services (T1076): Leveraging remote access services to gain control over critical systems.
• Credential Dumping (T1003): Extracting credentials to gain further access and escalate privileges.

2. Cybercrime Groups (Ransomware and Financial Motivated Attacks)

Overview:
Cybercriminal organizations are increasingly turning their attention to OT systems, leveraging ransomware and other destructive tactics to demand ransoms from industrial entities. These actors are often financially motivated, with some capable of deploying highly effective and disruptive attacks.

Notable Cybercrime Groups to Watch in 2025:

• Conti: This ransomware group has been one of the most active in 2024, particularly in the healthcare, energy, and manufacturing sectors. With the growing interconnectivity of OT systems, Conti is likely to target industrial control systems for large ransom payouts in 2025.
• REvil (aka Sodinokibi): REvil is another financially motivated group known for its high-profile ransomware attacks. In 2025, they are expected to continue targeting OT systems and leveraging double extortion tactics (data theft and encryption) to maximize financial returns.
• LockBit: Known for its focus on large organizations, LockBit has expanded its operations to target OT environments. Their high level of automation and sophistication makes them a formidable adversary in 2025.

Techniques Employed by Cybercrime Groups:

• Ransomware Deployment (T1486): Encrypting OT systems to demand a ransom for their release.
• Data Exfiltration (T1041): Stealing sensitive industrial data to add pressure for ransom payments.
• Brute Force (T1110): Using brute force techniques to guess login credentials for remote access systems.

3. Nation-State Sponsored Hacktivist Groups

Overview:
Hacktivist groups are often ideologically motivated and use cyberattacks as a form of protest or to advance political agendas. These groups can disrupt OT systems in an effort to cause social or political damage.

Notable Hacktivist Groups to Watch in 2025:

• Anonymous: This loosely affiliated group of hacktivists has historically targeted government and corporate systems in protests. In 2025, Anonymous is likely to expand its focus to critical infrastructure, using cyberattacks to create widespread disruption.
• Fancy Bear: A Russian hacktivist group, Fancy Bear has previously attacked energy and telecommunications sectors. With rising political tensions, Fancy Bear is expected to target OT systems for both espionage and disruption.

Techniques Employed by Hacktivists:

• Website Defacement (T1497): Defacing websites or internal systems to send a political message.
• Denial of Service (T1499): Disrupting services and availability of OT systems, such as SCADA systems.
• Credential Dumping (T1003): Stealing and using login credentials to gain access to critical infrastructure.

4. Insider Threats

Overview:
Insider threats represent a significant concern in OT cybersecurity. Employees or contractors with access to OT systems can intentionally or unintentionally cause damage or enable attacks from external adversaries. As OT systems become more interconnected, the risk posed by insiders grows in 2025.

Common Insider Threat Actors to Watch:

• Disgruntled Employees: Individuals who may feel wronged or seek to damage the organization they work for can cause significant harm to OT systems. These individuals often have privileged access to critical systems.
• Third-Party Contractors: Contractors with access to OT networks may inadvertently introduce security vulnerabilities or, in some cases, act maliciously, leading to a breach.

Techniques Employed by Insiders:

• Privilege Escalation (T1068): Insiders may escalate their privileges to gain access to sensitive OT systems.
• Data Exfiltration (T1041): Using insider knowledge to steal proprietary or sensitive data.
• Bypassing User Account Control (T1088): Insider actors can bypass access controls, either deliberately or accidentally, to gain higher access privileges.

5. IoT Vulnerabilities and Exploiters

Overview:
IoT devices are becoming an increasingly common part of OT environments. However, many of these devices are poorly secured and provide attackers with an entry point into critical systems. The rise of IoT-specific attacks is expected to be a major concern for OT cybersecurity in 2025.

Notable IoT-Focused Threats to Watch:

• Botnets (e.g., Mirai): Attackers often compromise IoT devices and create botnets to carry out large-scale attacks. In 2025, botnets could be used to target OT systems, disrupting operations or carrying out large-scale DDoS attacks on industrial systems.
• IoT Exploitation Groups: Specific groups focus on exploiting vulnerabilities in IoT devices, such as unpatched firmware or weak authentication. These vulnerabilities can allow attackers to bypass network defenses and gain access to OT networks.

Techniques Employed by IoT Exploiters:

• Exploitation of IoT Devices (T1076): Using known vulnerabilities in IoT devices to gain access to OT systems.
• Denial of Service (T1499): Using botnets to overwhelm IoT devices, causing OT system outages.

How to Defend Against OT Threat Actors in 2025

As the sophistication of OT threat actors continues to evolve, organizations must adopt robust defense strategies to mitigate these risks. Here are several key measures to defend against the top OT threat actors:

1. Network Segmentation and Isolation: Ensure that OT networks are properly segmented from IT networks. This reduces the risk of lateral movement and limits the impact of a breach.
2. Advanced Threat Detection and Monitoring: Implement continuous monitoring to detect anomalies and potential threats in real time. Machine learning and AI-based systems can help identify patterns indicative of a cyberattack.
3. Regular Patching and Vulnerability Management: Regularly update OT systems and IoT devices to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed.
4. Strong Access Control and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement strict access control measures, ensuring only authorized personnel can access OT systems. Multi-factor authentication should be mandatory for remote access.
5. Incident Response and Preparedness: Have a robust incident response plan in place that is specifically tailored to OT environments. Conduct regular drills to ensure your team is prepared for potential attacks.

Conclusion

As we approach 2025, the risk posed by OT threat actors continues to grow. Understanding the tactics, techniques, and motivations of these adversaries is crucial for organizations seeking to defend their critical infrastructure. By staying informed and implementing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, organizations can better protect their OT systems from the evolving threat landscape.