In this episode, Dino Busalachi and Craig Duckworth tackle one of the most overlooked threats in cybersecurity: the number of industrial vendors and system integrators in manufacturing environments.

The conversation addresses the relationship and communication gap between IT and the teams responsible for designing and supporting industrial control systems. They emphasize the need for improved governance, enhanced vendor accountability, and clear ownership of cyber risk.

Whether you're a CISO, CIO, or VP of Engineering, this episode offers actionable insight into bridging the IT/OT divide, securing plant floors, and building a cybersecurity strategy that works at the edge of your business.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off: Why Transparency in Cyber Matters
• 00:00:43 - Who’s Talking? Meet Craig & Dino
• 00:01:05 - The Big Question: What’s IT’s Role in Industrial Security?
• 00:01:35 - When Too Many Vendors = Chaos
• 00:02:37 - How to Actually Secure OT Environments
• 00:03:46 - Choosing the Right Partners (and Asking the Right Questions)
• 00:12:37 - Why Cyber Teams Need Plant Floor Time
• 00:14:24 - Getting Smarter: Use External Experts & Vendor Summits
• 00:18:22 - IT Meets OT: Closing the Culture Gap
• 00:30:03 - What Now? Practical Next Steps for CISOs

Links And Resources:

• Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Craig Duckworth and Dino Busalachi discuss the critical role of the C-suite in fortifying manufacturing environments against cyber threats.

They discuss the unique challenges that manufacturing organizations face. Their conversation reinforces the importance of executive teams understanding and actively engaging in industrial OT cybersecurity strategies.

With compelling arguments for a more involved C-suite, Craig and Dino explore the intersection of cybersecurity and operational efficiency. They emphasize the need for leadership to understand and lead the charge to ensure security for industrial control systems.

This episode serves as a wake-up call for executives to embrace their role in protecting their companies from potential adverse events. This episode highlights the fact that cybersecurity is not just an IT issue but a foundational aspect of modern business resilience.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Meet Dino and Craig
• 00:01:47 - Deciphering Cybersecurity's Extensive Influence on Manufacturing Dynamics
• 00:03:29 - Unpacking the Costs: The Stark Reality of Ignoring Cybersecurity
• 00:04:08 - The Interplay Between Cyber Insurance, Liability, and Organizational Security
• 00:05:07 - Charting the Course: Fundamental Actions for Cyber Resilience
• 00:07:35 - Implementing Cybersecurity Measures: A Tactical Overview for Manufacturing Leaders
• 00:10:54 - The Imperative of Continuous Monitoring in Mitigating Cyber Risks
• 00:14:11 - Bridging the Divide: Fostering Collaboration Between IT and OT Teams
• 00:17:06 - Cultivating Cyber-Aware Culture: Integrating Security into the Manufacturing DNA
• 00:20:01 - Forward Momentum: Strategic Insights for Executive Leadership on Cybersecurity
• 00:24:28 - Reflecting on the Imperatives of Cybersecurity in the Manufacturing Sector

Links And Resources:

• Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Dino Busalachi and Craig Duckworth tackle a critical disconnect plaguing industrial organizations: the disconnect in understanding and communication between IT and OT regarding industrial cybersecurity.

While some IT departments are investing in OT cybersecurity platforms, 85% of the data these tools collect is designed for OT teams to act upon. Unfortunately, plant floor personnel, system integrators, and OEMs working in these environments rarely get access to dashboards, asset inventories, or vulnerability reports.

Organizations must move beyond the "oil and water" mentality between IT and OT. This means involving plant personnel in cybersecurity decisions, sharing data with trusted partners who "build the cars" (not just buy them), and recognizing that effective OT security requires collaboration with the people who live and breathe on the plant floor every day.

Bottom Line: If you're not sharing cybersecurity data with your system integrators, OEMs, and plant operations teams, you're not practicing true IT-OT convergence. You're missing critical opportunities to improve your security posture where it matters most.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Why Local Collaboration is Critical for Cybersecurity Success
• 00:01:07 - Meet Dino and Craig: Experts in IT/OT Integration
• 00:01:49 - Unpacking the Challenges of IT/OT Convergence
• 00:02:28 - Why IT and OT Teams Often Struggle to Align
• 00:04:48 - Building Collaborative Frameworks for Stronger Cybersecurity
• 00:07:33 - The Role of CIOs and CISOs in Driving Change
• 00:08:44 - Navigating the Complexities of Diverse Plant Environments
• 00:10:23 - Partnering with Vendors to Enhance Security Outcomes
• 00:11:16 - Key Questions to Evaluate System Integrators Effectively
• 00:16:35 - Using Tabletop Exercises to Align IT and OT Teams
• 00:22:20 - Closing Thoughts: Bridging the Divide for Unified Cybersecurity

Links And Resources:

• Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Craig Duckworth and Dino Busalachi discuss the critical but often overlooked or misunderstood role of system integrators (SIs) in industrial cybersecurity.

Key Issues Identified:

• Organizations typically work with multiple specialized integrators across different facilities and systems
• Some SIs lack cybersecurity expertise, focusing primarily on equipment functionality
• Equipment can remain connected to networks for decades, with ownership and oversight changing hands over time
• System integrators must exercise proper IT coordination to implement remote access solutions effectively

Recommendations:

• IT and OT teams should collaborate more closely with system integrators on cybersecurity planning
• Organizations need to evaluate their SIs' cybersecurity capabilities and partnerships
• Consider standardizing on integrators with demonstrated cybersecurity practices and vendor certifications
• Apply the same due diligence used for IT vendor selection to OT system integrators

Bottom Line: System integrators are essential partners in executing industrial cybersecurity strategies and protection. Organizations must actively engage them in security conversations and ensure they have the necessary skills and partnerships to implement secure solutions for their plant environments from the start.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Real-World Ransomware Hits the Plant Floor
• 00:00:52 - Meet the System Integrators Shaping Your OT Plant Floor Security
• 00:01:17 - What System Integrators Really Do (and Don’t)
• 00:04:13 - Remote Access: The Hidden Backdoor Nobody Sees
• 00:08:34 - Why Ongoing Monitoring Is Non-Negotiable
• 00:13:30 - How to Pick the Right System Integrator For Your Operations
• 00:26:17 - Building Strong Partnerships with Your Integrators

Links And Resources:

• Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

Craig and Dino break down how cyberattacks that start in traditional IT systems can shut down entire manufacturing production lines, leading to massive financial losses.

Using real-world examples like UNFI's $500 million drop in market value in 60 hours, they explain how overlooked connections between IT and the OT plant floor are often the weakest links.

You’ll hear why simply installing firewalls isn’t enough, how organizational silos between IT and operations cause major blind spots, and what it really takes to secure industrial equipment.

Whether you're in leadership, technology, or operations, this episode will change how you think about cyber risk and business continuity in connected environments.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Introduction: Where Responsibility Ends and Authority Doesn’t Begin
• 00:01:08 - Meet Your Guides: Dino & Craig On the Frontlines
• 00:01:14 - When Cyber Hits the Plant Floor
• 00:01:28 - Real-World Wake-Up: The Unify IT Incident
• 00:02:36 - The Gaps No One’s Watching in OT Security
• 00:03:18 - How Org Structure Can Make or Break Cyber Defense
• 00:04:03 - Plugging in OT Visibility: IDS in Action
• 00:04:43 - Who’s Really Calling the Shots—Corporate or the Plant?
• 00:07:02 - IT-OT Convergence: What Leaders Must Understand
• 00:13:14 - Building Cyber Defense That Actually Works
• 00:15:25 - Recovery Starts Before the Breach
• 00:17:37 - Why IT Alone Can’t Fix OT Problems
• 00:24:55 - Just Getting Started? Here’s What to Do First
• 00:28:33 - Final Word: You Can’t Secure OT Alone

Links And Resources:

• Want to Sponsor an episode or be a Guest? Reach out here.
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

What happens when the CISO inherits responsibility for the security of the plant floor?

Dino and Craig discuss a growing trend: CISOs are being expected to oversee cybersecurity for industrial plant floors. Unfortunately, they don't have the background to effectively take on this responsibility.

A perpetuating trend exists where cybersecurity leaders are expected to protect factories and industrial assets without the authority, tools, or support to do so effectively.

In this conversation, Dino and Craig explain why traditional IT security approaches don’t work in these environments, and how things like outdated equipment, disconnected systems, and outside vendors make the challenge even harder.

From weak remote access tools to the confusion around who actually manages plant security, this episode shines a light on the hidden risks most companies overlook.

Whether you're in IT, operations, or a leadership role, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how to approach cybersecurity in complex industrial settings.

You'll also gain insights into the steps you can take to protect your people, your technology, and your bottom line.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off: Smart Tool Choices Start Here
• 00:01:02 - When CISOs Inherit the Factory Floor
• 00:02:17 - Making Friends with OEMs and Integrators
• 00:04:47 - Why OT Security Is a Whole Different Beast
• 00:08:50 - Cyber Budgets: Where’s the Money Really Coming From?
• 00:13:10 - How to Actually Roll Out Security in the Plant
• 00:18:35 - VPNs Aren’t Enough: Fixing Remote Access
• 00:24:42 - What OT Incident Response Really Looks Like
• 00:27:17 - Wrapping It Up: Strategy, Buy-In, and What’s Next

Links And Resources:

• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this rewind episode, cybersecurity leaders revisit some of the hardest-hitting truths about protecting critical infrastructure in an increasingly converged IT/OT world.

This conversation explores the disconnect between IT theory and OT reality, from the real-world fallout of the CrowdStrike disruption to the challenges of virtual patching, insider threats, and the cloud’s role on the plant floor.

The discussion exposes how legacy systems, poor collaboration, alert fatigue, and vendor dependency continue to sabotage industrial cybersecurity.

They discuss tactical strategies for improving, from asset inventory and patching hygiene to choosing the right partners and walking the plant floor.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Cyber threats are moving faster than your patch cycle
• 00:00:47 - Crowdstrike, Virtual Patching and Industrial OT Environments with Debbie Lay, TXOne Networks
• 00:07:48 - The #1 Myth Putting Your Industrial OT Assets at Risk
• 00:15:01 - Patch Management and Software Updates: IT versus OT

Links And Resources:

• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Dino and Craig tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in industrial cybersecurity: IT/OT convergence.

But is it truly convergence or more of a collision?

Drawing from real-world experiences, they challenge the idea that OT is a “shadow IT group” and argue that operational technology deserves distinct governance, funding, and strategic influence.

From secure-by-design to system integrators' evolving role, this conversation is a call to action for CISOs, CIOs, and engineering leaders to rethink how they build cybersecurity partnerships across the plant floor.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Opening Shot: Who’s Really in Charge—CIOs or the Plant Floor?
• 00:00:57 - Collision Course: IT and OT Can’t Keep Dodging Each Other
• 00:01:52 - Two Worlds, One Mission: Why OT Isn’t Just “IT in a Hard Hat”
• 00:04:07 - When Convergence Fails: What’s Missing in the Middle
• 00:05:54 - Breaking Silos: Why Cybersecurity Demands True Collaboration
• 00:08:22 - Real Talk: What Cyber Protection Looks Like on the Plant Floor
• 00:10:46 - OT’s Tipping Point: Will the Next Move Come from IT, or the Shop Floor?
• 00:17:32 - Your Move: What Leaders Must Do Next (Before It’s Too Late)

Links And Resources:

• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!