Industrial Cybersecurity Insider

Dino and Craig break down what they are seeing in real industrial environments as companies begin the OT cybersecurity journey. They outline why most organizations are still in an “unaware to awareness” phase, what creates the “oh wow” moment after the first pilot, and why ownership and execution often falls to plant-floor teams and their OEM and integrator partners.
The conversation covers the limits of surface-level visibility, why accurate asset inventory and remote access control are foundational, and how practical constraints like flat networks, legacy switches, warranty concerns, and limited human capital can stall progress.
They also share cautionary examples of IT-first security tooling causing operational impact, and they close with a clear message: think globally, act locally, and build a defensible OT program that matches how plants actually run.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Why OT vulnerabilities and remote access are the real “kicker”
(00:01:00) The market reality: 60% unaware, 30% starting, 10% operationalized
(00:03:00) Who owns remediation: IT vs OT and the plant-floor accountability gap
(00:05:00) Why “visibility” often stops at Purdue Level 3 and misses Level 2 assets
(00:07:00) OEMs, integrators, and why support models matter in OT cybersecurity
(00:09:00) Flat networks, north-south traffic, and why you still miss panel-level devices
(00:11:00) The human capital problem and why outsourcing is often unavoidable
(00:18:00) A real-world warning: EDR in ICS can create massive operational cost
(00:20:00) Safety, quality, and cybersecurity: the three things leaders will fund
(00:24:00) Change management failures and why monitoring PLC edits matters

Links And Resources:
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Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
BW Design Group Cybersecurity
Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

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Craig Duckworth sits down with CIO and Chief Enterprise Architect Shellie D'Angelo to address why so many OT and IT modernization efforts stall out at the foundation.
Shellie explains why data governance must come before “another tool,” how inconsistent data quality quietly sabotages reporting and risk decisions, and why leadership transparency is the fastest path to maturity.
Craig and Shellie also explore the reality of shadow IT on the plant floor, the growing impact of AI as both a defensive advantage and an attacker accelerator, and the practical steps teams can take to move from reactive chaos to measurable business outcomes.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Why honest risk conversations are the starting line
(00:01:00) Shellie’s background: rebuilding enterprise tech foundations
(00:02:00) OT/IT convergence: start with business drivers and data governance
(00:05:00) “Tools first” vs business-first security decisions
(00:08:00) Knowing what you have before buying more tools
(00:11:00) How far along are most organizations, really?
(00:15:00) AI as a double-edged sword: defense vs attacker acceleration
(00:18:00) Where to start: inventory first vs governance structure
(00:22:00) OT tech is often easier prey: PLCs, HMI/SCADA, cameras
(00:25:00) Partnering vs going it alone: don’t reinvent the wheel
(00:26:00) Tech debt and why technology can’t be an afterthought
(00:29:00) Governance should increase speed, not slow it down
(00:30:00) Final advice: “turn chaos into cash” and own your impact

Links And Resources:
Shellie D'Angelo on LinkedIn
Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
BW Design Group Cybersecurity
Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

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Dino Busalachi sits down with Simon Chassar, former Chief Revenue Officer at Claroty and current OT cybersecurity advisor and investor, to explore the evolution and future of industrial cybersecurity.
Simon shares insights from his decade-long journey in the space, discussing how OT asset visibility has become commoditized and why the industry is experiencing two major shifts: moving right toward threat-led SOC services and perimeter protection, and moving left toward secure-by-design approaches and attack simulation.
They dive into the persistent challenge of self-performing versus partnering with specialized integrators, the critical skills shortage commanding 30-40% salary premiums, and why AI is both accelerating security challenges and offering new solutions.
Simon reveals how private equity firms are finally prioritizing OT cybersecurity at the board level, discusses the emerging OT SOC landscape, and explains why the traditional IT security budget model is failing operational technology environments.
The conversation addresses the disconnect between IT leadership and the OT ecosystem, the proliferation of unmanaged remote access technologies, and the urgent need for manufacturers to engage their trusted system integrators and OEMs as cybersecurity partners before the next major incident occurs.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - Meet Simon : From Claroty's Hypergrowth to OT Security's Next Chapter
(00:02:00) - The Commoditization of OT Asset Visibility
(00:04:00) - Two Major Industry Shifts: Right and Left
(00:07:00) - The Self-Performing Problem: Why OT Security Becomes Shelfware
(00:10:00) - IT/OT Convergence and the Skills Gap Crisis
(00:13:00) - Secure by Design and the AI Leapfrog
(00:15:00) - AI Uncovers Hidden OT Vulnerabilities and Risks
(00:18:00) - Funding Models and Private Equity's Cybersecurity Awakening
(00:22:00) - Why the OT Ecosystem Must Drive Its Own Security Strategy
(00:25:00) - M&A Activity and Consolidation in OT Cybersecurity
(00:27:00) - The Rise of OT SOCs and MSP Partnerships

Links And Resources:
Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
BW Design Group Cybersecurity
Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

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Craig and Dino recap their experience at S4X26, the leading global OT cybersecurity conference in Miami.
They discuss the conference's "connected" theme and how AI is creating an inflection point in industrial cybersecurity, driving unprecedented connectivity between IT and OT environments.
The hosts explore the challenges of the "silver tsunami" as experienced engineers retire, how AI-powered tools are being embedded directly into edge devices and industrial products from vendors like Cisco and Fortinet, and why the regulatory landscape in Europe is advancing faster than other regions.
They emphasize the importance of connecting with peers and partners in the OT security community, highlight key vendors and technologies showcased at the event, and explain why both IT and OT professionals should attend S4X together to bridge the knowledge gap.
The episode concludes with details about next year's expanded conference in Tampa, February 8-11.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - Random Encounter with Team USA Hockey in Miami
(00:01:00) - S4X26 Conference Kickoff: The "Connected" Theme
(00:03:00) - AI as the Inflection Point for OT Connectivity
(00:05:00) - AI Embedded in Edge Devices and Vendor Technologies
(00:07:00) - First-Time Attendee Experiences and Key Takeaways
(00:10:00) - Europe's Cyber Resiliency Act and Regulatory Advancements
(00:12:00) - Vendor Presence and the OT Technology Marketplace
(00:14:00) - S4X27 Moving to Tampa: February 8-11, 2027
(00:16:00) - AI's Role in Addressing the Silver Tsunami
(00:18:00) - Final Thoughts: Why IT and OT Teams Should Attend Together

Links And Resources:
Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
BW Design Group Cybersecurity
Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

As we look back, Craig and Dino tackle a critical disconnect in industrial cybersecurity: the failure to share OT security tool data with the people who actually need it.
They explore why IT teams often purchase and deploy OT IDS platforms without engaging plant floor teams, system integrators, and OEMs who are actively working in manufacturing environments.
The conversation reveals that 85% of data collected by these tools is meant for OT teams to act on, yet it rarely reaches them.
They discuss the consequences of this siloed approach—including system integrators bringing their own tools to fill the gap—and provide practical advice on achieving true IT/OT convergence.
The episode emphasizes the importance of working with partners who can "build the car" rather than just "sell the car," and challenges organizations to evaluate whether they're truly practicing IT/OT convergence or just paying lip service to it.
Chapters:
(00:00:00) - The Data Sharing Problem in OT Cybersecurity
(00:01:00) - Why System Integrators Can't Access Security Tool Data
(00:04:00) - Who's Keeping the Data and Why
(00:08:00) - The IT/OT Oil and Water Problem
(00:11:00) - When System Integrators Bring Their Own Tools
(00:14:00) - Questions to Ask Your Cybersecurity Partners
(00:17:00) - The Car Analogy: Buyers vs. Builders
(00:19:00) - Who Asset Owners Really Trust
(00:21:00) - The Three-Legged Stool of OT Security
(00:23:00) - The Path to True IT/OT Convergence

Links And Resources:
Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
BW Design Group Cybersecurity
Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!