PrOTect It All

Some of the biggest cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure aren't new - they've simply never gone away.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow welcomes back Lesley Carhart for a fascinating conversation about why decades-old malware like Conficker continues to infect operational technology (OT) environments around the world.

Drawing on nearly two decades of industrial incident response experience, they share real-world stories from the front lines of critical infrastructure, explaining why legacy systems, operational constraints, and workforce shortages continue to make remediation incredibly challenging. The discussion goes far beyond "just patch it," exploring the difficult risk decisions organizations face when uptime, safety, and cybersecurity all compete for priority.

Aaron and Lesley also examine one of the industry's most pressing issues: the growing shortage of OT cybersecurity talent and the need to rebuild foundational technical skills for the next generation of defenders. 

Key Learnings: 

Why malware like Conficker still exists in modern OT environments

The unique challenges of removing malware from industrial control systems

Why patching isn't always possible in operational technology

How legacy infrastructure creates long-term cybersecurity risk

The growing OT cybersecurity skills gap - and how the industry can address it

Practical lessons from real-world industrial incident response

Key Moments: 

05:47 Challenges with Old Industrial Systems

06:58 Struggles with malware cleanup

11:02 Challenges in Cyber Security Careers

16:19 Dealing with malware spread

17:53 Managing infection risk long-term

23:04 Challenges with nuclear hardware upgrades

27:05 Training the Next Tech Generation

29:33 Importance of Computer Basics

34:04 Discovering hidden technical issues

37:01 Troubleshooting in industrial environments

39:10 Malware and botnets era

42:20 Developing low-touch security solutions

Whether you're responsible for manufacturing, utilities, energy, transportation, or any critical infrastructure environment, this episode provides practical insight into one of OT cybersecurity's longest-running challenges.

Tune in to discover why yesterday's malware is still creating today's biggest industrial cybersecurity problems - and what organizations can do about it.

About the guest : 

Lesley Carhart is a Principal Industrial Incident Responder at Dragos and a recognized expert in OT and industrial cybersecurity. With nearly two decades of experience in incident response, digital forensics, and threat hunting, they help organizations defend critical infrastructure from cyber threats targeting industrial control systems. Lesley is also a respected speaker, instructor, and advocate for cybersecurity education, regularly sharing their expertise with industry professionals and the next generation of defenders.

How to connect Lesley: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lcarhart/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/hacks4pancakes

Bluesky : https://bsky.app/profile/hacks4pancakes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hacks4pancakes/

Website: https://tisiphone.net/

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: info@protectitall.co

The biggest challenge in OT cybersecurity isn't technology - it's earning trust.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Jacob McCune, a cybersecurity architect with more than 20 years of hands-on experience across both IT and OT environments.

Jacob shares his unconventional journey from the help desk to securing critical infrastructure, highlighting the lessons that only real-world experience can teach. Together, Aaron and Jacob explore why communication, collaboration, and trust are often the deciding factors between successful cybersecurity programs and failed initiatives.

The conversation also dives into the future of OT security, examining how AI, cloud technologies, and evolving architectures are changing industrial environments and why organizations need to rethink traditional approaches while keeping operational realities front and center.

Key Learning: 

Why trust is the foundation of successful OT cybersecurity programs

How practical experience shapes better cybersecurity decisions

The importance of communication between IT, OT, and leadership teams

Why compliance alone doesn't guarantee security

How AI and cloud technologies are reshaping OT environments

What the future may look like beyond traditional industrial architectures

Key Moments: 

05:18 Building a Power Plant Team

09:06 Balancing cybersecurity with business needs

11:01 Avoiding project delays during downtime

16:04 Importance of Broad Experience

17:59 A mentor's lesson on teamwork

23:41 Challenges with job postings and requirements

26:27 Managing risk and resource challenges

29:59 Helping Your Compliance Team

33:12 Dad's long career and expertise

36:44 Discussing cybersecurity risk management

39:44 Cloud resources and AI discussions

41:08 Exploring future solutions and technologies

Whether you're building an OT security program, managing critical infrastructure, or looking to grow your cybersecurity career, this episode delivers practical lessons from years of real-world experience.

Tune in to discover why people, trust, and communication remain the most valuable assets in modern cybersecurity only on Protect It All.

About the guest: 

Jacob McCune is a cybersecurity architect with more than 20 years of experience across IT and OT environments, helping organizations secure critical infrastructure through practical, real-world security strategies. From starting his career on the help desk to designing enterprise security architectures, Jacob has built a reputation for bridging the gap between IT and OT through collaboration, communication, and trust. He is passionate about helping organizations move beyond compliance to build resilient cybersecurity programs that protect both people and operations.

Links to connect Jacob : 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-mccune-33a08984/ 

CornCon Cybersecurity Conference : https://corncon.net/

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: info@protectitall.co 

Website: https://protectitallpod.com/ep114

X: https://twitter.com/protectitall 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll 

FaceBook:

AI is changing OT cybersecurity - but success still depends on understanding your operations.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow welcomes Vivek Ponnada for a practical conversation about how artificial intelligence is transforming the way organizations defend critical infrastructure.

With decades of experience in industrial automation and OT security, Vivek shares firsthand insights into the realities of protecting legacy control systems while preparing for a future increasingly shaped by AI, automation, and digital transformation.

Together, Aaron and Vivek discuss how organizations can use AI to improve visibility, accelerate threat detection, prioritize vulnerabilities, and strengthen operational resilience, without losing sight of the fundamentals that keep industrial environments safe.

Key Learning: 

How AI is transforming OT cybersecurity and industrial operations

Practical AI use cases for protecting critical infrastructure

Why legacy systems remain one of the biggest OT security challenges

How AI can improve vulnerability management and incident response

The role of digital twins in strengthening cyber resilience

Why trust, collaboration, and operational knowledge remain essential in OT security

Whether you're responsible for manufacturing, utilities, energy, water, or other critical infrastructure, this episode provides practical insights into balancing innovation with operational reliability.

Tune in to discover how AI can strengthen OT cybersecurity while helping organizations protect the systems that keep the world running.

Key Moments: 

06:43 AI and cloud adoption in OT

13:27 Controller logic changes and safety steps

21:24 Discussing Digital Twins for Security Use

26:51 Managing vulnerabilities at scale

32:41 Understanding Power Plant Limitations

37:17 Keeping up with plant changes

41:43 Automating infrastructure and maintenance

49:08 Rising importance of cybersecurity investment

52:16 Early days in cybersecurity and OT

01:00:03 Ransomware impacts on industries

01:01:53 Using GPUs for security and OT

About the guest : 

Vivek Ponnada is an Operational Technology (OT) Security practitioner with global experience and currently serves as the SVP of Growth & Strategy at Frenos, the world's first Simulated OT Pentesting Platform. Having started his career in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) as a Technician, Vivek became a Controls Engineer and commissioned Gas Turbines in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and South-East Asia. Post MBA, Vivek held multiple roles in Sales, Marketing & Business Development and Services covering ICS and OT Security solutions for Critical Infrastructure industries (Power, Oil & Gas etc.) at GE, XenonCyber Dynamics and Nozomi Networks. He was a co-lead for the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices Project and regularly speaks at Information Security Conferences. Vivek has a C.Eng. from IEI, MBA from McCombs (UT Austin) and holds the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert & GICSP certifications. He is a member of the ISA, ISACA, Public Safety Canada ICS Security Symposium Advisory Committee and is a CS2AI Fellow.

How to connect Vivek: 

Frenos: https://frenos.io 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/1ot/ 

Frenos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Frenos_Security

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: info@protectitall.co

When it comes to OT cybersecurity, the fundamentals still matter - even in the age of AI.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Caleb Davis for a practical discussion on securing industrial environments where uptime, safety, and resilience are non-negotiable.

From legacy control systems and tight budgets to AI-powered threats and open-source security tools, Aaron and Caleb explore the real challenges organizations face every day - and the strategies that deliver meaningful protection without requiring massive investments.

A major focus of the conversation is defense in depth: building multiple layers of protection, fostering trust between IT and OT teams, and strengthening foundational cybersecurity practices before chasing the latest technology.

You'll learn:

Why defense in depth remains the cornerstone of OT cybersecurity

How to improve security in legacy industrial environments

Practical ways to strengthen OT security - even with limited budgets

Why asset inventory, segmentation, and basic cyber hygiene still matter most

How AI is changing both offensive and defensive cybersecurity

The importance of trust and collaboration between IT, engineering, and operations

Whether you're responsible for manufacturing, utilities, water treatment, energy, or any critical infrastructure environment, this episode delivers practical strategies you can apply immediately.

Tune in to learn how layered defenses, strong relationships, and proven fundamentals create resilient OT security programs - only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

05:41 PLCs and network security challenges

07:24 Challenges in Updating OT Systems

11:33 Impact of Downtime on Security

16:03 Using affordable cybersecurity tools

19:14 Building Trust in Business Deals

23:01 Security challenges in medical devices

25:49 Trust and IT implementation risks

28:35 Using AI for safer software updates

31:05 Cybersecurity best practices for plants

33:40 Balancing Security Costs and Business Needs

37:50 Nurturing OT like raising kids

41:20 AI and cybersecurity concerns

About the guest : Caleb Davis is a founding member of SolaSec, a cybersecurity consulting firm specializing in advanced penetration testing for embedded and connected systems. Based in Dallas/Fort Worth, he holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Tyler and is a patent-holding expert with vast experience in hardware and firmware security. Caleb leads deep technical assessments across a range of high-impact industries, including medical devices, automotive, industrial control systems, ATMs and financial terminals, aerospace components, and consumer electronics. His work focuses on secure design, trusted boot processes, cryptographic implementations, and threat modeling, helping organizations integrate security throughout the development lifecycle and align with industry and regulatory standards.

How to connect Celeb :

SolaSec: https://solasec.io 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-davis-400439100/ 

OTPCAP (OT PCAP analysis tool): https://github.com/SolaSec/otpcap

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: info@protectitall.co 

Website: https://protectitallpod.com/ep112

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Quantum computing isn't a future problem - it's a cybersecurity challenge organizations need to start preparing for today.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow welcomes Jim Sortino for a timely discussion on quantum readiness, cryptographic risk, and the future of cybersecurity.

As organizations continue accumulating technical debt and relying on aging cryptographic systems, the arrival of quantum computing threatens to disrupt the very foundations of digital trust. Jim explains why leaders need to think beyond today's threats and begin preparing for a future where current encryption standards may no longer provide adequate protection.

Together, Aaron and Jim explore the practical realities of quantum risk, how organizations can identify vulnerable systems, and why crypto agility is becoming one of the most important cybersecurity priorities of the next decade.

You'll learn:

What quantum computing means for modern cybersecurity

Why cryptographic technical debt creates long-term business risk

How to assess your organization's quantum readiness

The importance of crypto agility and encryption modernization

Practical steps security leaders can take today

Why IT and OT environments must prepare for the same emerging threats

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, technology leader, board member, or simply curious about the future of digital security, this episode provides actionable insights to help you prepare before quantum disruption arrives.

Tune in to learn why the organizations that start preparing today will be the ones best positioned to protect tomorrow.

Key Moments: 

06:02 Challenges with product maintenance and AI integration

08:42 Importance of Software in Everything

12:30 Addressing cybersecurity risks

16:00 Authentication and trust challenges

18:13 Preparing for technological changes

20:56 Planning and Implementing Projects

25:38 Budget planning for cybersecurity risks

28:54 Challenges for Small Financial Institutions

31:27 Importance of regulations in business

33:37 Legacy security systems and protocols

36:38 Quantum readiness and future risks

About the guest : 

Jim Sortino is the Chief Revenue Officer and a Board Member at Isera Corporation, where he helps organizations address emerging cybersecurity challenges through innovative identity and cryptographic security solutions. With decades of experience working with global enterprises, Jim specializes in helping leaders navigate complex technology risks, from technical debt and encryption modernization to quantum readiness. He is a passionate advocate for proactive cybersecurity strategies that prepare organizations for the next generation of digital threats.

How to connect Jim Sortino : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessortino/

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: info@protectitall.co 

Website: https://protectitallpod.com/ep111

X: https://twitter.com/protectitall 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll 

FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast

 

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