OCP IT-OT Project

The OCP IT-OT Project is an Open Compute Project initiative that focuses on common, open, and interoperable architectures for information technology (IT) and Operational technology (OT) systems in industrial and critical-infrastructure environments.

• Development of reference architectures for converged IT and OT infrastructures (architecture and design).
• Definition of open, interoperable frameworks for industrial and enterprise use cases (systems integration).
• Alignment of data center practices with factory, edge, and field-deployed systems (edge and industrial computing).
• Collaboration model for end users, solution providers, and vendors around shared requirements (industry collaboration).
• Contribution of specifications and guidance into the broader OCP ecosystem (open hardware and infrastructure standards).

More About OCP IT-OT Project

The OCP IT-OT Project (industrial and operational infrastructure) focuses on bridging information technology (IT) and OT domains using open, standardized, and interoperable approaches under the Open Compute Project. It addresses environments such as manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and other industrial or critical-infrastructure settings where OT equipment must integrate with enterprise IT and cloud architectures. The project operates within the broader OCP framework that promotes open hardware, open designs, and shared specifications for data center and edge infrastructure.

The project’s core purpose is to define and maintain reference architectures (architecture and design) that support converged IT and OT deployments. This includes equipment and system layouts for industrial sites, how compute, storage, and networking platforms are deployed in plant rooms or at the edge, and how these environments interface with centralized IT or cloud services. The project concentrates on open specifications and design guidance that can be reused by enterprises, vendors, and integrators when building or upgrading industrial infrastructure aligned with OCP principles.

Within OCP, the IT-OT Project functions as a collaboration forum (industry collaboration) where end users, hardware and software suppliers, and system integrators coordinate requirements and contributions. Outputs can include design specifications, deployment blueprints, and implementation guidance that reference OCP-recognized hardware platforms (open hardware) and infrastructure practices. The work connects OT use cases, such as process control, monitoring, and telemetry, with established IT disciplines like data center networking, compute standardization, and infrastructure management frameworks.

Enterprises can use the OCP IT-OT Project materials (enterprise architecture) to align industrial facilities and field operations with standardized, open infrastructure. This can cover the use of OCP-conformant racks, servers, and networking equipment in OT environments, as well as guidance for secure connectivity between plant networks and central IT systems. The project positions itself at the intersection of edge computing, industrial networking, and data center design, enabling reuse of OCP hardware and specifications in non-traditional data center locations.

From a directory perspective, the OCP IT-OT Project fits into categories such as open hardware standards for industrial and edge deployments, reference architectures for converged IT/OT environments, and collaborative specification development under the Open Compute Project. It contributes to the OCP ecosystem by tailoring open hardware and infrastructure concepts to OT requirements, enabling repeatable patterns that enterprises can adopt across multiple facilities and operational sites.