Ep. 9: When cyberattacks go physical, with Ian Bramson of Black & Veatch

Cybersecurity threats are no longer confined to IT systems. They’re now crossing into the physical world, with real consequences for manufacturing, supply chains and critical infrastructure. In this episode of Ctrl+Alt+Mfg, hosts Gary Cohen and Stephanie Neil are joined by Ian Bramson, vice president of global industrial cybersecurity at Black & Veatch, to unpack what this shift means for industrial organizations.

The conversation explores why the industrial attack surface is expanding, how supply chains and legacy systems create hidden vulnerabilities and why cybersecurity needs to be built in early through concepts like clean build, not bolted on after startup. Bramson also dives into how attackers are using AI, what “AI vs. AI” means for defenders and the unique challenges of securing OT environments as operations move to the cloud. HIs takeaway is to keep it simple, start early and focus on building a resilient cybersecurity foundation that can adapt as technology — and threats — continue to evolve.

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Introduction to Cybersecurity in Manufacturing
• (00:05:47) - The Growing Threat of Cyberattacks
• (00:09:25) - Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape
• (00:13:34) - The Concept of Clean Build
• (00:17:43) - Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
• (00:23:06) - AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Threats
• (00:27:04) - Cloud Security Challenges
• (00:29:47) - Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways