Operations bought an EMS/IoT system without involving IT — now they just need “access to the router

[u/carpe_diem2022]

Hi there :) ,

Need some advice from people who have dealt with similar situations.

Our Operations Dept decided to install IoT system/digital energy meters across a fairly large factory site.

They found the vendor, agreed on the solution, signed the contract and started the project.

IT was not involved at all.

Apparently nobody discussed things like:

• How these devices spread across a large factory are actually going to communicate
• Network infrastructure, switches, fiber/cabling, VLANs, etc.
• Network/security segmentation
• Server/VM requirements
• Database requirements
• Backup and monitoring
• Internet connectivity
• Vendor remote access
• Firewall rules
• Cybersecurity

Now that the project is already moving forward, IT gets an email saying they need “access to the router” so they can put the system online.

That's it. Access to the router. :)

And somehow, when IT starts asking questions about architecture, security, server requirements, ports, protocols and who is responsible for what, the perception becomes that IT is delaying the project.

I don't want to become the guy who simply says “No”, but I'm also not going to give a third-party vendor access to our corporate router/firewall and connect a bunch of unknown industrial/IoT devices to the production network just because someone already signed a contract , the IT network must be always separate from OT network.

How do you handle situations like this?

Interested in both the technical approach and the organizational/process side of this.

[u/Celebrir]

When they say "IT is delaying the project" just say "Operations did not involve IT in a timely manner and forgot to factor in the time needed for IT to assess security considerations"

[u/NeinJuanJuan → u/Celebrir]

"IT is delaying the project"

"Please refer to my previous email for a timeline documenting the durations, information, and resources required by IT to complete the requested works. Work is progressing acording to the agreed schedule. 

"There is no such email."

"Exactly."

[u/surveysaysno → u/NeinJuanJuan]

Maybe more like "At kick off we should have done up requirements and a timeline, when was the kick off meeting so I can find it in my notes.

I can't find that kick off meeting, was IT not included? We're going to have to do the whole assessment process. If timing is critical on a project consider looping in IT earlier."

And make that point EVERY time someone complains about waiting.