Industrial Cybersecurity: The Gap Between Investment and Cyber Event Prevention
In this episode, Craig and Dino address why manufacturers still suffer incidents after spending millions on OT security tools. They discuss how to convert those investments into measurable risk reduction. You'll learn why buying tools isn't a strategy. Get insights into how to validate asset visibility on the floor (not just the network map), practical ways to reduce alert fatigue and assign ownership, how to close the OT incident response gap by connecting SOC to operators, the realities of flat Layer 2 networks and undocumented zones, how to handle technical debt at scale (EOL firmware, unpatched HMIs, safe upgrade paths), and why "everyone is responsible" often means no one is. Expect candid discussion on alert fatigue, flat networks, and the human constraints driving today's gaps, plus a concrete checklist for building a coalition that actually works to protect production environments.Chapters00:00:00 – Why incidents still happen after major OT cyber spend00:02:30 – Tools vs. outcomes: underusing capabilities and alert fatigue00:05:50 – Who owns plant‑floor cyber? Why CISOs, CIOs, OEMs, and SIs talk past each other00:08:10 – Define the use case before tuning sensors and policies00:10:00 – OT IR is missing: operators are the first responders00:11:20 – Network reality check: flat L2, VLAN gaps, and unmanaged switches00:13:30 – Change management and patching in OT: risk, downtime, and technical debt00:15:20 – Skills and staffing: the silver tsunami and "jack of all trades" constraints00:18:00 – What outside partners can and cannot do in plants00:21:00 – Visibility blind spots: validating coverage with floor‑level walkthroughs00:24:00 – It won’t stick without a coalition: getting plant managers, engineering, OEMs, and SOC alignedLinks And Resources:Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedInCybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedInBW Design Group CybersecurityDino Busalachi on LinkedInCraig Duckworth on LinkedInThanks 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!
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