Driving OT Security Innovation: AI, Risk Reduction, and the Future of Critical Infrastructure

Welcome back to Protect It All! In this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with longtime friend and OT cybersecurity veteran Brian Proctor for a deep dive into the current state—and future—of the OT cyber landscape. Together, they trade stories from the front lines, reflecting on how their early experiences as asset owners shaped their passion for innovation and helping critical infrastructure run safely and securely.

Brian, whose career spans roles from OT engineer to startup co-founder, opens up about his journey—highlighting his drive to push the boundaries of traditional OT security and the evolution of key industry technologies. The conversation explores everything from the persistent lack of innovation in OT, to AI’s growing role in tackling the daunting challenges of risk reduction, visibility, and scaling assessments across sprawling environments.

If you’ve ever wondered how new tech like AI is reshaping industrial cybersecurity, why “we’ve always done it this way” just doesn’t cut it anymore, or how organizations can realistically stay ahead without breaking the bank, this episode delivers honest insights, practical advice, and a look toward an exciting, if sometimes daunting, future.

So grab your headphones and settle in as Aaron and Brian share stories, hot takes, and strategies designed to protect it all—because in critical infrastructure, the stakes have never been higher.

Key Moments: 

06:45 OT Cyber Industry Evolution

11:57 Evolving Challenges in OT Security

19:34 Bridging the OT Security Skills Gap

21:54 Enhancing OT Security Understanding

30:46 AI Model Security Challenges

34:26 Rapid Scaling for Site Assessments

40:56 Simulating Cyber Threat Responses

47:19 Operational Priorities: Equipment vs. Cyber Tools

49:30 Focus on Meaningful Security Metrics

56:30 Rapid AI Adoption vs. Internet

01:02:12 Cybersecurity: Small Targets are Vulnerable

About the guest : 

Brian Proctor is a cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience protecting critical infrastructure across energy, industrial automation, and operational technology sectors. As the co-founder and CEO of Frenos, he empowers critical infrastructure operators to proactively secure their environments against evolving cyber threats.

Brian built his foundation in ICS/OT cybersecurity during his 13+ year tenure at two progressive California Investor Owned Utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison serving the 2nd and 8th largest cities in the United States. He managed a team of 15 security engineers and researchers across 150+ projects, established OT security roadmaps, and co-invented an R&D Magazine Top 100 award-winning GPS anti-spoofing mitigation technology that earned him a patent.

Brian has published IEEE papers on security monitoring, served as Critical Infrastructure Co-Chair for Securing Our eCity, and regularly speaks at conferences to educate and build the ICS/OT cybersecurity community. He holds technical certifications including GICSP, CISSP, and CRISC, along with a Business Administration degree