Cybersecurity Shouldn’t Suck: Fixing the Real Problems with Tom Sego

What happens when cyber threats hit critical infrastructure?

In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville sits down with Tom Sego, a cybersecurity leader with a fascinating background from chemical engineering to Apple to professional poker, now focused on making security simpler and more effective for critical infrastructure as CEO at Blastwave.

Cyber risks in critical industries are real, but so are the solutions. Kristin and Tom discuss why current security models create more problems than they solve, how the human element is often overlooked, and what needs to change to make security actually work for the people keeping our systems running.

🔎 In this episode, we unpack:

✅ How cyber threats can disrupt production & cold storage 🚜❄️ ✅ Why critical infrastructure sectors struggle with cybersecurity adoption 🛑 ✅ The AI-powered cyber threats targeting supply chains 🤖💥 ✅ The human side of security—trust, simplicity, and keeping people safe 🛡️ ✅ Why passwords are outdated and cause more harm than good ✅ How security teams can build trust instead of friction ✅ And yes… we also talk about wine, food obsessions, and French pastries 🍷🥐

Whether you’re in OT, security, or just sick of cybersecurity being unnecessarily complicated, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real solutions. _______________________________________________

🎯 Episode Key Highlights

00:00:20) - Introduction to the Episode & Guest: Tom Sego (00:01:20) - Guest’s Favorite Food & Food Memories (00:05:54) - Tom Sego’s Background & Career Journey (00:09:23) - The Ukraine Electric Grid Hack: A Pivotal Moment for Tom (00:10:51) - The Importance of OT Security & Community Building (00:11:26) - How Tom & Kristin Met – A Conversation Over Wine (00:14:43) - Why Tom Founded BlastWave & His Mission (00:16:21) - The Human Factor in Cybersecurity & Biggest OT Risks (00:19:17) - The Future of Cyber Threats in OT & Supply Chains (00:24:04) - Mid-Episode Break: Celebrating 8,000 Downloads! (00:26:07) - Why Farmers & Food Producers Struggle with Cybersecurity (00:32:46) - Real-World Cold Storage Cybersecurity Risks (00:37:50) - How AI is Impacting Cybersecurity & Attack Strategies (00:40:39) - Cyber-Physical Security & Real-World Consequences (00:42:27) - Trust in Cybersecurity: Why It’s Critical for OT (00:43:26) - Final Takeaways: Tom’s Advice for Staying Secure (00:44:31) - The Role of AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities & Risks (00:45:17) - Outro & Closing Remarks

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Show Notes

🔹 Cyber-Attack Against Ukrainian Critical Infrastructure:

https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-alerts/ir-alert-h-16-056-01

🔹 Zim Ketter’s Wired Magazine Article about Ukraine’s Power Grid Hack:

https://www.wired.com/2016/03/inside-cunning-unprecedented-hack-ukraines-power-grid/

🔹 Port of Beirut, Lebanon ammonium nitrate explosion:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7985624/

_______________________________________________ Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit

If you enjoyed our episode on agroterrorism and cyber threats to farms featuring the Animal Agriculture Alliance, here’s another opportunity to explore critical conversations about our food system. And if you haven’t listened yet, check it out here:

🎙 Episode Link: