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The Department of Energy (DoE) has initiated a center of excellence aimed at improving operational technology (OT) cybersecurity by fostering collaboration among its agencies and laboratories. This initiative responds to rising concerns about cyber threats targeting OT systems that support sensitive operations.

Key challenges include workforce development and the integration of data science into cybersecurity programs. The center is leveraging the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's OT cyber range to train personnel in practical cybersecurity scenarios. Other agencies, including the Defense Commissary Agency and the State Department, are actively addressing their own OT cybersecurity challenges, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the separation between OT and IT environments.