PrOTect It All

The biggest challenge in OT cybersecurity isn’t just technology - it’s people.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Mike Holcomb to explore one of the most urgent issues facing the industry today: the growing skills gap in OT and ICS cybersecurity.

Mike shares his journey from IT into operational technology security and breaks down why more professionals are needed to defend the systems that power energy, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure worldwide.

This conversation goes beyond awareness - it’s about practical pathways into the field and how the community is stepping up to make OT cybersecurity more accessible.

You’ll learn:

Why OT cybersecurity is one of the most in-demand and underserved fields

How to transition from IT to OT cybersecurity

The biggest barriers newcomers face - and how to overcome them

What foundational skills and controls matter most in ICS environments

The role of community initiatives like BSides ICS in closing the gap

Why training, mentorship, and collaboration are critical for the future

Whether you’re looking to break into cybersecurity, pivot your career, or build stronger teams, this episode delivers actionable guidance and inspiration from someone actively shaping the future of OT security.

Tune in to learn how to build a career while helping protect the infrastructure the world depends on - only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

03:07 Getting started in cybersecurity

06:33 Early passion for cybersecurity

11:54 Hurricane Katrina aftermath discussion

15:50 Awareness and education on OT security

17:49 First experiences with GRID class

25:07 Early challenges in OT cybersecurity

29:17 Importance of effective communication

35:11 Global expansion of cybersecurity events

39:52 Building a foundation in OT cybersecurity

43:36 Excitement for new CompTIA exam

46:48 Expressing appreciation for community involvement

About the guest: 

Mike Holcomb is an independent consultant focused on OT/ICS cybersecurity and an educational content creator. Prior to supporting clients full-time through UtilSec, he was the Fellow of Cybersecurity and the OT/ICS Cybersecurity Global Lead for one of the world’s largest engineering and construction companies, providing him with the opportunity to work in securing some of the world’s largest OT/ICS environments, from power plants and commuter rail to manufacturing facilities and refineries. As part of his community efforts, Michael founded the BSidesICS/OT with multiple events planned globally in 2026. He has his master’s degree in OT/ICS cybersecurity from the SANS Technology Institute. Additionally, he maintains cyber security and OT/ICS certifications such as the CISSP, GRID, GICSP, GCIP, GPEN, GCIH, ISA 62443, and more. He was awarded the SANS Difference Maker Award for Practitioner of the Year: ICS/OT Defender for 2025 and BEER-ISAC's Community Builder Award for 2026. He posts regularly on LinkedIn and YouTube to help others learn more about securing OT/ICS and critical infrastructure. 

How to connect Mike: 

Main Site: mikeholcomb.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeholcomb

YouTube: youtube.com/@utilsec

Instagram: instagram/_mikeholcomb/

Newsletter: utilsec.kit.com/95e31307f7

BSidesICS/OT: bsidesics.org

Connect With Aaron Crow:

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You can’t manage risk you can’t measure - or even see.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Nicholas Friedman to explore how organizations can move beyond compliance and build real, measurable cybersecurity programs across IT and OT environments.

With experience spanning banking, aerospace, and critical infrastructure, Nicholas shares how risk management principles translate across industries - and why understanding business context is critical to protecting operational systems.

This conversation dives into one of the biggest challenges in OT today: asset visibility and risk quantification. From outdated spreadsheets to modern automation, Aaron and Nicholas break down what it actually takes to understand exposure, justify investment, and communicate risk at the board level.

You’ll learn:

Why asset inventory is the foundation of OT security

How to move from compliance checklists to real risk reduction

The importance of risk quantification for CISOs and executives

How to communicate cybersecurity in business and financial terms

The role of automation and knowledge transfer in scaling security programs

Lessons from banking and aerospace applied to utilities and critical infrastructure

Whether you’re leading a cybersecurity program, managing OT environments, or presenting to the board, this episode delivers practical strategies to align security with business value and measurable outcomes.

Tune in to learn how to turn cybersecurity into a risk-driven, business-aligned strategy - only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

05:14 Understanding business risk basics

08:40 Building effective OT cybersecurity teams

13:26 Challenges with aging IT and OT systems

14:19 Organizing IT and OT assets

18:31 Understanding OT and IT risks

21:53 Evaluating security risks and priorities

25:31 Improving asset deployment and management

29:14 Evaluating and prioritizing risks

31:12 Shifting focus to success plans

35:59 Selling tech that delivers results

37:22 Hands-on approach to cybersecurity

42:39 Challenges with NERC audit processes

44:47 Balancing compliance and security

49:45 Challenges in power utility operations

51:55 AI, OT, and risk management

56:31 Importance of early compliance planning

About the guest : 

Nicholas Friedman is an enterprise risk and governance leader with 25+ years of experience across Fortune 500 companies and government sectors. He specializes in integrated risk management, compliance, and AI governance - helping organizations build scalable frameworks that align security, risk, and business resilience.

How to connect Nicholas Friedman : 

Linkedin :  https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasfriedman/

Website : https://www.templarshield.com/

Connect With Aaron Crow:

Website: www.corvosec.com 

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

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://protectitall.co/ 

X: https://twitter.com/protectitall

In this special milestone episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow steps away from the usual format to share his personal journey - from early days working with PLCs at a kitchen table to building a platform that connects and educates cybersecurity professionals around the world.

This episode is more than a reflection - it’s a story of persistence, curiosity, and community.

Aaron walks through the evolution of IT and OT cybersecurity, the lessons learned from decades in the field, and how conversations with experts across 100 episodes have shaped his perspective on what it truly means to “Protect It All.”

You’ll hear:

How Aaron’s career in IT and OT began - and what kept him going

The biggest lessons learned across 30+ years in cybersecurity

What building a podcast taught him about community and leadership

How the industry has evolved - and what still hasn’t changed

Why relationships and shared knowledge matter more than ever

What’s next for the future of cybersecurity and the podcast

Whether you’ve been listening since episode one or you’re just discovering the show, this episode offers inspiration, perspective, and a deeper look behind the mic.

Tune in to celebrate 100 episodes and the journey of protecting what matters most - only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

04:12 Early tech projects and hobbies

09:31 First tech job setting up classrooms

11:20 Getting certified in IT

16:49 Early career in power and cybersecurity

18:08 Building a versatile IT team

24:23 Starting the cybersecurity podcast journey

26:28 Feeling recognized in the podcast world

29:22 Getting started in cybersecurity

Connect With Aaron Crow:

Website: www.corvosec.com 

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

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://protectitall.co/ 

X: https://twitter.com/protectitall 

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

FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast

To be a guest or suggest a guest/episode, please email us at [email protected]

Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:

Apple   - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protect-it-all/id1727211124

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Vvi0euj3rE8xObK0yvYi4

Strong OT cybersecurity programs aren’t built on tools alone, they're built on strategy, communication, and smart investment.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow is joined by cybersecurity expert Don C. Weber for a candid, real-world discussion on what it actually takes to build and sustain effective security programs across IT and OT environments.

From CapEx vs OpEx decisions to the growing role of AI in both attack and defense, this conversation cuts through the noise and focuses on what drives real outcomes: understanding business workflows, aligning with leadership, and developing the soft skills needed to turn strategy into action.

You’ll learn:

Why budgeting (CapEx vs OpEx) directly impacts security success

The underrated power of soft skills in driving security programs

How to connect cybersecurity efforts to business value and operations

The role of pen testing and assessments in improving maturity

Where AI adds value and where it introduces new risk

How training and process understanding strengthen long-term resilience

Whether you’re building a new security program or scaling an existing one, this episode delivers practical, experience-driven insights to help you make smarter decisions and drive real impact.

Tune in to learn how to align strategy, people, and investment for stronger OT cybersecurity only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

05:49 Technical skills and security requirements

09:10 Understanding data workflows

12:29 Building a vulnerability management program

13:26 Understanding organizational decision history

17:44 Budgeting challenges with CAPEX and OPEX

21:36 Steps in a security assessment

24:17 Starting a cybersecurity program

28:02 Prioritizing remote access security

31:21 Discussing AI's impact on cybersecurity

32:55 Using AI in cybersecurity

38:07 AI simplifying complex knowledge

40:35 AI tools making data queries easier

45:02 Detecting and responding faster

46:05 Networking and shared experiences

About the guest: 

Don C. Weber is a visionary cybersecurity leader who helps defenders safely prove security where it matters most in industrial operations. He is a SANS Principal Instructor, Founder of Cutaway Security, co-author of SANS ICS613: ICS/OT Penetration Testing & Assessments, and he also teaches SANS ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials to SANS student around the world. He brings years of field work into creating step-by-step labs and planning methods teams can use right away.

How to connect Don: 

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

Cutaway Security: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cutaway-security-llc 

CutSec Github: https://github.com/cutaway-security 

CutSec GasPot HMI Lab: https://github.com/cutaway-security/gaspot-hmi-lab 

SANS ICS ICS613 ICS/OT Penetration Testing and Assessments: https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/ics-ot-penetration-testing-assessments

Connect With Aaron Crow:

Website: www.corvosec.com 

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

L...

Cyberattacks don’t just test your systems - they test your preparedness.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow breaks down key lessons from the Striker attack and what it reveals about today’s evolving threat landscape across IT and OT environments. From energy and healthcare to manufacturing systems, attackers are increasingly using sophisticated techniques like “living off the land” - blending into normal operations instead of deploying obvious malware.

Aaron takes this beyond theory, focusing on what organizations must do before an attack happens.

A major theme? Tabletop exercises. Not as a compliance activity - but as a critical tool for building real incident response readiness, improving team coordination, and exposing gaps that tools alone can’t catch.

You’ll learn:

What the Striker attack teaches about modern cyber warfare

How living-off-the-land tactics bypass traditional defenses

Why tabletop exercises are essential for real-world readiness

The role of threat hunting and collaboration across teams

How attackers exploit weaknesses in both IT and OT environments

Why small, consistent actions can dramatically improve resilience

Whether you’re defending critical infrastructure, leading a cyber team, or just starting your security journey, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Tune in to learn how to prepare before the next attack - not react after it - only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

04:59 "Modern Warfare: Cyber and Beyond"

08:47 "Security Risks of Remote Wipe"

10:31 "Living Off the Land Tactics"

13:11 "Balancing Power and Security"

19:12 "Vulnerabilities Demand Swift Action"

20:21 Prioritize Risk, Justify Investment

25:04 Practice Preparedness Before Crisis

26:48 Weak Links Threaten Cybersecurity

Connect With Aaron Crow:

Website: www.corvosec.com 

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

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://protectitall.co/ 

X: https://twitter.com/protectitall 

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

FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast

To be a guest or suggest a guest/episode, please email us at [email protected]

Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts:

Apple   - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protect-it-all/id1727211124

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Vvi0euj3rE8xObK0yvYi4