Cybersecurity by Design: Building OT Security Into Your Manufacturing Plant Floor

In this episode, Dino and Craig address the practicalities of building cyber resilience directly into manufacturing environments - rather than after the fact.

Using real-world analogies and field-tested insights, they break down why treating OT security like physical safety is crucial.

They challenge the outdated mindset of retrofitting cybersecurity protection after deployment of industrial plant floor equipment.

This episode covers all the key elements of protecting your plant floor. From the importance of designing cybersecurity upfront, to implementing the SANS 5 Critical Controls, specific to cybersecurity in operational technology (OT) environments.

Whether you're planning a greenfield build or managing legacy systems, this episode equips mid-to-senior leaders with actionable strategies to align IT and OT teams, boost visibility across XIoT assets, and future-proof operational environments in high-risk industries.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off: Why Cybersecurity Can’t Be an Afterthought in Manufacturing
• 00:01:52 - Dino’s Five Must-Have OT Security Controls You Should Already Be Using
• 00:03:45 - When IT and OT Collide: Real Talk on Silos, Strategy, and Responsibility
• 00:06:08 - You Can’t Protect What You Can’t See: The Visibility Wake-Up Call
• 00:11:24 - Build It In, Don’t Bolt It On: Making Cybersecurity Part of the Machine
• 00:19:26 - Lost Docs and Retiring Experts: Managing Risk Across the Lifecycle
• 00:20:41 - Dino and Craig’s Final Word: Start Now, Start Smart—Security Is the New Safety

Links And Resources:

• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity Insider Newsletter
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

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