Episode: From Plant Operator to OT Security: Stories of Failures and Breakthroughs
Pub date: 2025-05-26
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In this episode, host Aaron Crow dives deep into the intersection of IT and OT cybersecurity with special guest Gavin Dilworth—a plant operator turned automation engineer and cybersecurity expert. Listen in as Gavin shares his candid and often humorous journey from factory floors to global consulting, including how a workplace near-miss sparked his “lightbulb moment” about the similarities between health and safety and cybersecurity.
Aaron and Gavin discuss everything from operators’ creative workarounds on the plant floor, to the importance of trust and rapport between IT and OT teams, and why having hands-on experience is key to building effective cybersecurity programs in critical infrastructure environments.
You’ll also hear real-world stories of technology mishaps, the critical role of plant culture, and the practical challenges organizations face in securing legacy systems while keeping operations running.
If you want honest, relatable insights and actionable advice on bridging the IT-OT divide—and a few laughs along the way—this episode is for you.
Key Moments:
10:12 Operator Rounds and RFID Challenges
12:56 Operators' Ingenuity and Knowledge
21:29 IT vs. OT: Firmware Update Challenges
26:49 Understanding and Accepting Risk
28:12 Standards, Frameworks, and Continuity
33:08 High Voltage Safety Precautions
40:41 Bridging OT and IT Skills
43:46 Cybersecurity Cross-Training Surge
52:38 CISO Knowledge Gap in OT Security
54:32 "Experience: Essential for Understanding"
01:03:34 DCS System Configuration Challenges
01:06:52 Neglecting Redundancy Risks Operations
01:11:00 Optimizing Underutilized IT Resources
01:20:04 "Understanding Systems Before Advice"
01:22:06 Old Cables Remain Untouched
About the guest :
Gavin Dilworth’s career took an unconventional path. As a plant operator, he was tasked with keeping production running smoothly and monitoring sensor readings, both on the computer and around the factory. However, Gavin was never quite the model operator—rather than dutifully making rounds and compari
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