Industrial Cybersecurity & OT Risk worked example

Network Segmentation ROI with segmentation project investment of 600,000 $: a worked example

Push segmentation project investment up to 600,000 $ and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when evaluating zones, conduits, industrial firewalls, remote access separation, or plant network redesign.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Segmentation project investment: 600,000 $ (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 240,000)
  • Annual risk reduction savings: 95,000 $ / yr (unchanged)
  • Annual segmentation support cost: 26,000 $ / yr (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Net annual segmentation savings = annual risk reduction savings - annual segmentation support cost) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 8.7 yr for network segmentation payback period, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 69,000 $ / yr for net annual segmentation savings.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 600,000 $ for segmentation project investment.
  • At this operating point the engine returns -255,000 $ for five-year net segmentation value.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where segmentation project investment sits at 240,000 $ and the headline result is 3.48 yr, this scenario comes in 150% above the baseline at 8.7 yr.
  • It computes the payback period in years for an OT network segmentation project from the investment, annual risk-reduction savings, and annual support cost. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Network segmentation payback period: 8.7 yr (headline result)
  • Net annual segmentation savings: 69,000 $ / yr
  • Segmentation project investment: 600,000 $
  • Five-year net segmentation value: -255,000 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Network Segmentation ROI calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.