Manufacturers are accelerating adoption of cloud-native Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), intensifying focus on cybersecurity, data governance, and interoperability as IT/OT convergence advances. In December 2025, Rockwell Automation introduced its cloud-native, interoperable platform, "elastic MES," aimed at unifying operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) activities while enhancing scalability, resiliency, and analytics capabilities. This trend reflects a shift to modular, software-as-a-service (SaaS) MES architectures that connect legacy OT systems with enterprise IT environments. According to Rockwell's reporting, 21% of manufacturing leaders identified integration challenges as a primary barrier, highlighting the need for interoperable solutions.
Background
Traditional MES platforms were typically monolithic and deployed on-premises, limiting flexibility and restricting real-time data exchange between OT and IT systems. Cloud-native platforms, which incorporate modular elements and advanced analytics, are transforming MES by enabling dynamic, secure, and efficient manufacturing operations. Concurrent IT/OT convergence has widened attack surfaces, making manufacturing the most targeted sector for cyberattacks for the fourth year in a row. Ransomware incidents rose 61% in 2025. This environment has increased demand for integrated security and governance frameworks suited to hybrid IT/OT landscapes.
Details
Rockwell Automation's elastic MES is built for adaptable operations, embedding analytics, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven insights, and connected worker tools within a cloud-native structure to streamline production processes from material handling to tooling. The company notes that integration difficulties remain a significant obstacle, with 21% of respondents to its 2025 State of Smart Manufacturing Report citing this as a leading internal challenge.
The escalation in cyberattacks is driving the need for stringent security across IT and OT domains. In 2025, manufacturing accounted for 26% of global cybersecurity incidents, with ransomware alone up 61% year-over-year. Industry standards are increasingly emphasizing measures such as network segmentation based on ISA/IEC 62443, supply chain risk controls, and positioning OT security within the remit of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). OT security oversight grew, with 52% of organizations assigning it to the CISO in 2025, compared to 16% in 2022.
Manufacturing enterprises are also contending with governance that is not keeping pace with rapid technology adoption. A 2026 forecast report notes that OT/AI convergence is surpassing governance development, exposing gaps in data oversight, human supervision, and the deployment of secure AI data gateways. The rise of data-governance-as-a-service models and increased regulatory demands for transparency are further accelerating the push for strong governance across cloud-native MES implementations.
Outlook
Ongoing MES modernization will prioritize zero-trust security, automated governance, and compliance controls within cloud-native MES designs. Future solutions are expected to feature integrated governance, policy-as-code enforcement, and continuous monitoring to meet evolving regulatory and operational requirements.
