(CS)²AI Podcast Show: Control System Cyber Security

Kenny Mesker, OT Cybersecurity Strategist and Distinguished Engineer at Chevron, joins Derek Harp to share his remarkable journey from growing up on a farm in West Texas to becoming one of the industry's leading voices in operational technology (OT) cybersecurity. With more than 30 years of experience spanning electric utilities, SCADA systems, industrial control systems, and cybersecurity, Kenny...

In this episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast, host Derek Harp is joined by Jonathan Pollet, Marc Visser, and Bryan Singer for a deep-dive Q&A discussion following CS2AI’s January 21st community event on OT Monitoring & SOC and Incident Response. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience across industrial environments worldwide, the panel expands on questions that couldn’t be fully addressed duri...

In this episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast, host Derek Harp is joined once again by Dale Peterson, Founder of the S4 Conference and one of the longest-standing voices in OT cybersecurity. As Dale marks 25 years in the industry, the conversation takes a forward-looking turn toward what he believes is the next major inflection point for industrial security: connectivity driven by AI, data, and business...

In this insightful episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast, host Derek Harp welcomes Jay Gignac, Vice President of Sales at FoxGuard Solutions, (CS)²AI Fellow and a passionate OT cybersecurity evangelist. The conversation centers around some of the most pressing challenges in the control systems industry—asset visibility, patch management, and community collaboration. Jay, who will be speaking at the upcom...

Lucian Niemeyer , Chief Executive Officer of Building Cyber Security and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, joins Derek Harp to discuss the growing cyber risks to operational technology (OT) systems and the urgent need for proactive frameworks to protect public safety. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 , this episode delves into the vulnerabilities in smart buildings, connected infrastruct...

Roya Gordon , previously the Executive Industry Consultant - Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity at Hexagon Asset Lifecycle Intelligence and currently, is the Deputy CISO at ENGIE North America Inc., joins Derek Harp live from Hack the Capitol 7.0 to explore the evolving landscape of asset inventory in operational technology (OT). Roya breaks down the differences between asset visibility, in...

In this episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast, host Derek Harp welcomes Mehdi Tarrit Mirakhorli , Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii and a Cybersecurity Expert , to discuss Secure by Design—a fundamental shift in how we develop and deploy software in industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT). With over 15 years of R&D experience for DARPA, the Air Force, and DHS, M...

Derek Harp welcomes Kyle McMillian , Product Security Officer at Siemens, to discuss the evolving landscape of software bill of materials (SBOMs) and their role in modern cybersecurity. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 , this conversation unpacks the challenges and opportunities posed by SBOMs in an industry grappling with legacy systems and modern threats. Kyle dives into the origins of SBOM...

Derek Harp sits down with Kenneth Warren , Staff OT and Offensive Security Engineer at GRIMM Cyber, to discuss how gamification and Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions are revolutionizing cybersecurity training. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 , this conversation explores how CTFs and cyber ranges create safe, hands-on environments for learning offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills. K...

Derek Harp hosts Jeff Hahn , Project Manager at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), to discuss innovative approaches to training in the ICS and OT cybersecurity space. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 , Jeff shares insights into how INL’s escape rooms provide hands-on, immersive learning experiences for professionals and students alike. The escape rooms integrate learning objectives from INL’s r...

Derek Harp welcomes Rob Shaughnessy , President & CEO, Director of Psymetis, Inc., to discuss critical issues in the world of ICS and OT security, recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 . Rob dives into the vulnerabilities surrounding the development of innovative technologies, supply chain risks, and the evolving threat landscape posed by nation-state actors. The conversation highlights the gr...

The intersection of cybersecurity and the food industry takes center stage as Kristin Demoranville, founder and CEO of Anson Sage and host of Bytes and Bites , joins Derek Harp at Hack the Capitol 7.0 . This compelling conversation reveals how digital systems impact every aspect of the food supply chain, from farming and production to transportation and storage. Kristin highlights key vulnerabilit...

In this episode of the (CS)²AI Podcast , host Derek Harp welcomes Jay Warne , co-founder of ResetCon, to discuss the intersection of cybersecurity research, critical infrastructure, and collaborative defense strategies. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0 , this conversation highlights the pressing need to close gaps between academia, offensive researchers, and critical industries. Jay delves in...

Our host Derek Harp sits down with Adam Robbie , Head of OT Threat Research at Palo Alto Networks, live from Hack the Capitol 7.0 . Adam shares critical insights into emerging cybersecurity challenges within Operational Technology (OT) environments, including findings from Palo Alto's extensive OT threat landscape research. Listeners will hear about the top attack vectors impacting critical infras...

In this episode of the CS2AI Podcast , host Derek Harp dives deep into the evolving threats to national security and critical infrastructure with Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Recorded live at the Hack the Capitol 7.0 conference in Washington D.C., this episode sheds light on the increasing cyber vulnerabilities faced by the United States from nation-...

Join Derek Harp and his guests from Rapid7—Lonnie Best, William Price, and Nicholas Butcher—as they delve into the critical challenges and exciting opportunities within the Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) cybersecurity landscape. Recorded live at Hack the Capitol 7.0, this episode highlights the growing demand for OT cybersecurity, innovative approaches to managing...

In this episode of the CS²AI Podcast, host Derek Harp is joined by Lucian Niemeyer, CEO of Building Cybersecurity, for an enlightening discussion on the critical importance of protecting operational technology (OT) systems. Recorded at the Hack the Capitol 7.0 conference, Lucian emphasizes the increasing threats to critical infrastructure posed by nation-state actors and other adversaries, describ...

Derek Harp hosts Virginia "Ginger" Wright, a program manager at Idaho National Laboratory, known for her pioneering work in cybersecurity for critical infrastructure. Ginger shares the history and importance of Cyber Informed Engineering (CIE) and how this engineering philosophy integrates safety protocols directly into the design of industrial systems, making them resilient against cyber threats....

In this episode, host Derek Harp sits down with Bryson Bort and Tom Van Norman, co-founders of ICS Village and creators of Hack the Capitol. They discuss the origins and evolution of Hack the Capitol, now in its seventh year, and the conference’s unique focus on bridging cybersecurity professionals with policy makers and industry leaders. They dive into the value of hands-on learning, the launch o...

In this episode, the conversation centers on the critical role of operational technology (OT) security and the unique contributions of the S4 Conference. Dale Peterson shares his journey and insights into the challenges of underrepresentation in cybersecurity, especially for women and other groups, and highlights innovative scholarship initiatives aimed at bridging this gap. The discussion also de...

Today, we are thrilled to welcome Roya Gordon as our guest.  Roya is an executive industry consultant specializing in operational technology, cybersecurity, and Hexagon. She is a military veteran, an accomplished technologist, and a prolific speaker in our industry. Her creativity knows no bounds, encompassing her passion for the arts and her love of opera and symphonies. She is also an avid...

We are thrilled to have Max Aulakh, the Founder and CEO of Ignyte Assurance Platform, joining us today.  Max is a military veteran and motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys doing voluntary work. He is a prolific contributor to the cybersecurity community, always willing to be of service to others. When Max was three, his father applied for American citizenship at the US Embassy in India. It was an...

We are delighted to have Mike Holcomb joining us on the show today. Mike is both a fellow and a cybersecurity director, and he currently serves as the ICS OT Cybersecurity Global Lead at Fluor, a massive multinational engineering and construction firm with over 40,000 employees. He has participated in many major building projects, and we are excited to learn from his extensive experience today.&nb...

We are delighted to have Chase Richardson, the VP of Consulting at Bridewell, back on the show today.  Bridewell boasts a rich history in industrials, offering comprehensive cybersecurity services across the entire cybersecurity spectrum, including operating technology.  Recently, Bridewell came up with an insightful report on cybersecurity within the US critical infrastructure. In...

We are delighted to have Chase Richardson, Head of US Operations for Bridewell, and Martin Riley, Director of Managed Services for Bridewell, joining us today! We are changing things slightly for this episode, with Martin and Chase diving into how to integrate OT systems into your sim rather than presenting our regular biographical format. Their focus today is predominantly on the increasingly rel...