Securing IT and OT environments is one of the most pressing challenges for today’s security leaders. CISOs, heads of infrastructure, and operations leaders must strike a delicate balance, protecting against sophisticated threats while ensuring operations remain uninterrupted. The stakes are high, but organizations don’t have to face these challenges alone.
Encore Episode: Insights on Protecting OT from Growing Cyber Threats
We’re excited to release a special encore episode of the Threat Vector podcast, showcasing the most valuable insights from our recent three-episode series on OT security. The series featured top industry experts, including guest speaker Michela Menting, senior research director at ABI Research; Qiang Huang, vice president of product management at Palo Alto Networks; Del Rodillas, distinguished product manager for industrial cybersecurity at Palo Alto Networks; and guest speaker Brian Wrozek, principal analyst at Forrester Research. They addressed key insights on OT and IT security architectures, OT malware threats and OT security controls.
Expert Perspectives from the Series
Threats and Visibility Challenges: Michela Menting and Qiang Huang
In the first episode, Michela Menting and Qiang Huang addressed the critical challenges of OT security. Michela highlighted the rising frequency of OT-targeted attacks and debunked the misconception that OT environments are immune to cyberthreats. Qiang expanded on the visibility gap in OT systems, explaining that traditional IT tools often fail to meet OT-specific needs. Both experts emphasized the importance of vigilance, tailored solutions, and enhanced visibility to secure critical infrastructure.
Zero Trust for OT Environments: Del Rodillas
In the second episode, Del Rodillas explored the challenges of implementing Zero Trust in OT environments, where operational risks demand a careful approach. He advocated for starting with a clear understanding of risk, focusing on high-value assets, and creating a prioritized risk ledger. This method enables organizations to maintain operational efficiency while enhancing their security posture.
Optimizing Security Budgets: Brian Wrozek
The final episode of the series featured Brian Wrozek, who provided practical guidance on maximizing limited security budgets. He recommended aligning strategies with proven frameworks, fully utilizing existing controls and leveraging external threat intelligence to justify and enhance investments. His insights offered a pragmatic roadmap for making impactful security decisions despite tight resource constraints.
Building a Foundation for Resilient OT Security
Across the series, recurring themes highlighted the foundation of resilient OT security. Organizations must begin by understanding and prioritizing risk, protecting their most critical assets. Proven frameworks serve as a reliable structure for scaling security strategies, while OT-specific visibility tools are essential for identifying uncertainties. Above all, security efforts must align with operational goals, ensuring that protective measures support business continuity.
Don’t Miss the Encore Episode
This special encore episode of the Threat Vector podcast compiles the most valuable insights from Michela, Qiang, Del and Brian into one cohesive discussion. Whether you are a CISO or an operations leader, this episode offers actionable guidance to help you tackle today’s most pressing IT and OT security challenges.
Listen now to learn how to build a resilient security strategy that balances protection with operational efficiency.