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This article originally appeared in Automation World and features Melissa Bruno, Group Engineering Manager at E Tech Group. Click here to read the full article. During any technology assessment to determine the need for an upgrade, a direct line of communication from integrators to decision makers and maintenance and engineering teams can help them better understand how to evaluate potential solutions. When you’re working in a facility that has equipment reaching the end of life or components on the verge of obsolescence, it would be nice to simply wave a wand and have everything be instantly updated.  Unfortunately, because multiple installations and upgrades have been done over decades, this process tends to be a bit more involved. Before you can address obsolescence, breakdown, and security issues, you need to have a full picture of where your facility stands. To do this, we perform what we call an IT/OT assessment. While companies like ours perform this work, the client’s presence and cooperation play a crucial role. Here’s how to get the most out of your assessment. The Importance of IT/OT Alignment A comprehensive IT/OT assessment ensures that information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT) work together, enabling more reliable performance, stronger cybersecurity, and better-informed operational decisions. Keeping both sides aligned reduces the likelihood of unexpected downtime caused by system incompatibilities and helps future-proof operations. Key Areas to Evaluate A successful IT/OT assessment focuses on multiple dimensions of the operation: Addressing all of these areas ensures that organizations can prioritize investments based on risk, operational impact, and potential return. Engage and Understand Compounded fixes over time make it difficult to identify the main issues or where to start resolving them. Having an open line of communication with the decision makers and maintenance team, we can help them better understand what we’re assessing … Continued