The Purdue Model organises industrial functions into levels from physical process and control through operations and enterprise systems, helping teams reason about dependencies and separation. It is a conceptual reference, not a universal map or a rule that all communication must follow one rigid hierarchy. Modern environments may include cloud, remote access, IIoT and safety systems that require explicit representation. Design should start with actual assets and flows, zones, conduits, owners and operational impact. Placing a firewall between levels does not guarantee segmentation if alternative routes or broad rules exist. Inventory and diagrams need reconciliation with configuration. Authorised tests verify required and denied communication, operation during connectivity loss and recovery while respecting process safety and availability.
IT glossary
Purdue model
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