Industrial Cybersecurity & OT Risk worked example

OT Monitoring Sensor Density at 92% target sensor utilization: a worked example

Push target sensor utilization up to 92% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when planning passive network monitoring coverage for zones, conduits, switches, and critical assets.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Network zones or segments needing monitoring: 42 segments (unchanged)
  • Monitoring sensor capacity available: 35 segments (unchanged)
  • Target sensor utilization: 92 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 80)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Required OT monitoring sensor load = monitoring demand in zones or segments รท target sensor utilization) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,470 units for total load, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 15.98 units / hr for hourly equivalent.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 42 units for input load.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 35 x for load factor.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target sensor utilization sits at 80% and the headline result is 1,470 units, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 1,470 units.
  • It computes the required monitoring sensor load at your target utilization and the gap between that requirement and your installed sensor capacity. 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

  • Total load: 1,470 units (headline result)
  • Hourly equivalent: 15.98 units / hr
  • Input load: 42 units
  • Load factor: 35 x

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live OT Monitoring Sensor Density calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.