DirectConnect

Every year, organizations invest thousands—or even millions—of dollars in new cybersecurity tools with the expectation that they'll automatically improve security and compliance. Unfortunately, that's rarely how it works. In this episode of DirectConnect, the Archer managing partners, Leonard Chamberlin, Stacy Bresler, Brent Castagnetto, and Steve Parker, discuss one of the most common mistakes th...

In this episode of Direct Connect, Stacy Bresler, Steve Parker, and John Fallon tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in modern cybersecurity: Does compliance actually make you secure? Organizations invest millions in cybersecurity programs, tools, audits, and regulatory requirements—yet breaches continue to happen. Why? They explore the growing disconnect between security risk and complianc...

In this episode of Direct Connect, Brian Pauling, Brent Castagnetto and John Fallon, discuss the growing impact of extreme weather conditions on utility operations and critical infrastructure resilience. From unexpected spring snowstorms in Colorado to extreme heat forecasts across the Southeast, the conversation explores how utilities can prepare for the challenges ahead. The discussion highlight...

How much does your team size really impact your ability to stay compliant? In this episode of Direct Connect with Archer, Brian Pauling, Managing Partner at Archer and Archer's Account Manager John Fallon, dive into one of the most revealing questions they ask every client: “What’s your team size?” What seems like a simple question quickly uncovers deeper insights into risk, resilience, and compli...

Why Documentation of Processes & Procedures Matters (More Than You Think) In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker and Brian Pauling , Managing Partners at Archer, break down a topic that may not sound exciting at first—but is absolutely critical to operational success, compliance, and audit readiness: why documentation of processes and procedures matters. From NERC CIP and O&P requi...

What cybersecurity framework should your organization actually be using? In this episode of Direct Connect, Steve Parker and Stacy Bresler break down one of the most common—and most misunderstood—questions in cybersecurity: Which framework is right for you? From NIST CSF 2.0 to ISO 27001, IEC 62443, and even NERC CIP, they explore: Why sticking with your current framework might be the smartest mov...

Global conflict doesn’t stay contained—it can ripple into critical infrastructure. In this episode of DirectConnect , Stacy Bresler and Steve Parker, Managing Partners at Archer Energy Solutions, explore a pressing question: Does military activity abroad increase risk to the U.S. Bulk Power System? From state-sponsored cyber threats to supply chain vulnerabilities, they break down what utilities s...

A cyber attack reached the edge of the electric grid, disrupted visibility, damaged equipment, and walked away. This isn’t theory anymore. Earlier this year, Dragos released an intelligence report on a cyber intrusion into Poland’s electric distribution systems. There was no massive blackout. No dramatic outage. And that’s exactly why this matters. This video explains why that incident wasn’t a fa...

NERC is considering a major shift in how CIP standards work — including a parallel “100 Series” designed for cloud and system-based environments. In this episode of Direct Connect with Archer , Steve Parker and John Fallon break down: Why the current device-focused model struggles with cloud What a system-based approach could change The compliance and audit complexity this may introduce How vendor...

In the first Direct Connect of 2026 , the Archer team looks ahead at what’s coming for critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, resilience, and compliance in the year ahead. Managing Partner Stacy Bresler is joined by Managing Partners Steve Parker and Brian Pauling, along with Archer's new Account Manager , John Fallon for a candid roundtable discussion on the biggest risks and trends shaping 2026...

In this episode of Direct Connect , Stacy Bresler, Leonard Chamberlin and Steve Parker, Managing Partners at Archer, break down one of the most common (and dangerous) traps in NERC CIP and regulatory compliance: obsessing over your last audit. Auditors change. Risks change. Rules change. Teams change. So why are so many utilities still anchored to what happened 3+ years ago? From shifting threat e...

Episode: (Un)Manageable Rate of Industry Changes Critical infrastructure is evolving faster than ever — from accelerating NERC CIP regulations and IBR growth to cloud migration and expanding cyber threats. In this episode of Direct Connect , Stacy Bresler and Steven Parker discuss the challenges facing compliance, operations, and cybersecurity teams, and share strategies for staying ahead in a rap...

As data centers expand into rural America, small utilities are facing big changes — from compliance challenges and workforce shortages to surging energy demand. In this episode of DirectConnect, Stacy Bresler and Brian Pauling discuss how AI, weather, and grid fragility are creating a perfect storm for the future of energy. #Hashtags: #DataCenters #EnergySector #GridReliability #NERC #Utilities #C...

In this episode of Direct Connect, Archer Managing Partners Leonard Chamberlin and Steve Parker are joined by former FERC colleague and new Archer team member Barry Kuehnle to break down the newly approved NERC CIP-015-1 standard on Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM). They explore the standard’s origins, timeline, implementation challenges, and key technical debates—from sensor placement...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker and Stacy Bresler, Managing Partners at Archer, take a closer look at why inverter-based resources are suddenly on the radar. As the energy grid evolves, Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs) —like solar, wind, and battery systems—are playing a bigger role. But unlike traditional synchronous generators, IBRs interact with the grid differently, creating new...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker and Brent Castagnetto, Managing Partners at Archer, dive into the latest updates in the NERC CIP world. While many were enjoying the holidays, NERC was busy pushing key projects forward, including virtualization updates, changes to baseline requirements, and new definitions impacting compliance. What do these changes mean for the industry? Would just...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Leonard Chamberlin and Stacy Bresler, Managing Partners at Archer, sit down and talk about how to get started with Security Risk Management. Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com , we’d love to hear from you! #Ris...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Leonard Chamberlin and Brent Castagnetto, Managing Partners at Archer, sit down with IT Manager, Conor Martin, to talk about Archer’s new Datacenters and Disasters (D&D) Role Playing Exercises. Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Kyle Jones to talk about Externships. Externships are short-term, practical work experiences that allow students or professionals to observe and engage in a specific industry or career field. They are typically shorter and less formal than internships, often lasting from a few days to a few weeks. Externship...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Nick Weber, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Amy Stokes-Waters, a thought leader in cybersecurity, who shares her unique journey from a background in English and French to creating engaging security awareness training. They discuss the importance of inclusivity in cybersecurity and how diverse perspectives can enhance security practices. Amy introduces h...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Nick Weber, Managing Partner at Archer, dives deep into Surveillance Operations with Carlos Francisco, Sandra Stibbards and Scot Walker. Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com , we’d love to hear from you! #Surveil...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Leonard Chamberlin, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Austin Rappeport to talk about how we can lower risk through the use of automation. Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com , we’d love to hear from you...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Nick Weber, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Christopher Stitt, Kathleen Fariss and Riccie Gargano to talk about The Kindness Games. #thekindnessgames Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com , we’d love to...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Chris Blask, VP of Strategy at Cybeats, to talk about SBOMs, which stands for Software Bill of Materials. Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com , give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com , we’d love...

In this episode of DirectConnect, Brent Castagnetto, Managing Partner at Archer, sits down with Tim Starr, a seasoned compliance analyst at APS with a background in IT and social work, shares insights on key priorities for entities managing compliance risks, effective policy operationalization, and the critical role of training in maintaining cybersecurity standards. They also explore the challeng...