Legacy Tech, AI Hype & Cyber Risk: What IT and OT Leaders Must Get Right

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Episode: Legacy Tech, AI Hype & Cyber Risk: What IT and OT Leaders Must Get Right
Pub date: 2025-12-22

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AI promises transformation - but legacy technology, process gaps, and cyber risk often stand in the way.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with veteran IT and cybersecurity leader Neil D. Morris, who brings over 30 years of experience across aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. Together, they cut through the hype to explore what really matters when modernizing technology and managing cyber risk in complex, real-world environments.

Neil shares candid insights on why legacy systems still power critical operations, why replacing them isn’t as simple as it sounds, and how organizations can unlock real value from AI without increasing risk. The conversation dives into tech debt, regulation, ROI, and the often-overlooked role of process in successful transformation.

You’ll learn:

• Why legacy systems aren’t going away anytime soon
• The hidden risks of chasing AI without strong foundations
• How to balance security, usability, and business value
• Why process and governance matter more than tools
• How IT leaders can communicate cyber and AI value in business terms
• Where AI creates opportunity - and where it creates new attack paths
  
  

Whether you’re leading digital transformation, managing cyber risk, or advising the business on AI adoption, this episode delivers real talk and practical wisdom from the front lines of IT and OT leadership.

Tune in to learn how to modernize responsibly, manage risk intelligently, and separate AI reality from hype only on Protect It All.

Key Moments: 

00:00 "Legacy Tech in Modern Firms"

06:22 "Technology, Change, and Customer Focus"

09:51 "Challenges in Articulating Cybersecurity Value"

12:27 "Tech Solutions Must Drive Value"

15:43 Sell Ideas Beyond the Code

19:03 "Ransomware Risks in Acquisitions"

24:02 Government, Services, and Compliance Debate

25:35 Balancing AI, Cybersecurity, and Regulation

30:33 BlackBerry's Downfall: Ignored Innovation

32:06 "Evolution and Misuse of AI"

34:45 "Opportunity to Lead Change"

37:52 "AI Without Guidance Backfires"

41:07 "AI: Smart but Context-Lacking"

46:45 "AI Empowering Business Transformation"

50:30 "Effortless Tech-Fueled Imitation"

About the guest : 

Neil D. Morris is a senior enterprise technology leader with 25+ years of experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI at scale. He currently serves as Head of IT at Redaptive and previously held CIO roles at Ball Aerospace and Maxar Technologies. Neil is known for guiding organizations through complex modernization efforts while balancing security, risk, and business value.

How to connect Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildmorris/

Connect With Aaron Crow:

• Website: www.corvosec.com 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

• Email: [e-mail] 
• Website: https://protectitall.co/ 
• X: https://twitter.com/protectitall 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll 
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