PrOTect It All

 Great cybersecurity programs aren’t built in a panic - they’re built through early planning, trusted relationships, and consistent execution . In this kickoff episode for 2026 of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow shares practical, real-world guidance on how cybersecurity leaders can avoid last-minute scrambles and instead build momentum that lasts all year. Drawing from years of experience across...

AI is everywhere - but it won’t fix broken cybersecurity foundations. In this end-of-year wrap-up episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow takes a hard look at the growing hype around AI in cybersecurity and explains why fundamentals still matter more than any shiny new tool , especially in OT environments. Drawing from real-world experience and industry observations, Aaron challenges the belie...

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 techn...

Cybersecurity has evolved from an afterthought to a business-critical responsibility - and AI is accelerating that shift faster than most organizations are ready for. In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow sits down with Sue McTaggart , a cybersecurity leader with a software development background and more than 15 years of experience driving security transformation. Together, they exp...

The future of cybersecurity won’t be won by tools alone - it will be won by people, process, and smarter use of AI. In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow sits down with cybersecurity veteran Sharad Rai to explore how IT and OT security teams can reduce complexity, fight alert fatigue, and build stronger defenses through foundational practices and intelligent automation. Sharad brings...

Cyber incidents don’t just test your technology - they test your people, your processes, and your culture. In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow sits down with Daniel Swann , Cyber Incident Commander at Rockwell Automation , to pull back the curtain on what really happens during IT and OT incidents. With decades of experience across the U.S. Air Force, enterprise environments, and in...

The cybersecurity job market is changing faster than ever - and the skills that mattered five years ago won’t carry you into the future. In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Mark Sasson, Managing Partner at Pinpoint Search Group, to break down what the future of cybersecurity careers really looks like. From the rise of AI and automation to the growing importance of hum...

Can your plant stay connected and completely secure? In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow teams up with Lior Frenkel , CEO and co-founder of Waterfall Security , to explore how industries are rethinking OT cybersecurity in the age of ransomware and AI-powered attacks. Together, they break down why traditional firewalls can’t fully protect industrial control systems and how unidirect...

What happens when AI meets cybersecurity - and the music industry? In this eye-opening episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow sits down with Hadi Heidari , a cybersecurity veteran turned tech entrepreneur, to explore the groundbreaking (and sometimes risky) ways artificial intelligence is reshaping both digital defense and creative innovation . From AI-driven SOC operations and threat detecti...

Think your company’s private data is safe? Think again. In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow pulls back the curtain on one of cybersecurity’s most underestimated frontiers - Open Source Intelligence . He reveals how attackers leverage publicly available data from LinkedIn profiles to leak passwords , mapping out targets, infiltrating systems, and exploiting the human attack surface...

In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow takes a hard look at one of the biggest blind spots in OT cybersecurity : legacy Windows environments still running inside plants, refineries, and utilities. From Windows XP to Windows 10’s upcoming end of support , Aaron breaks down why these systems persist, the true cost of “doing nothing,” and the high-stakes trade-offs between replacement, i...

In this solo episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow delivers a straight-talk reality check on the widening IT–OT cybersecurity gap and what it really takes to protect the systems that keep the world running. With decades of experience defending critical infrastructure, Aaron exposes why many OT environments are still years behind in resilience and visibility - and how we can finally fix that....

OT cybersecurity isn’t about installing more firewalls - it’s about adapting your entire mindset. In this episode of Protect It All , host Aaron Crow breaks down why IT security tools often fall short in industrial environments and what it really takes to protect operational systems. Drawing from 25+ years of hands-on experience , Aaron explores the differences between IT and OT priorities, why “s...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow welcomes cybersecurity expert John Schimanski Jr., Chief Information Security Officer at Trivigil , for an eye-opening conversation that every parent, educator, and technologist needs to hear. Together, they delve into the escalating dangers children face online - from the alarming rise of cyber predators and social media manipulation, to the misuse of AI and incre...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with cybersecurity leader and National Guard threat hunt team lead Christopher Ross, diving into the real-world experiences that shape careers in the intersecting worlds of IT and OT security. Chris shares his 18-year journey from joining the military with a passion for computers to leading critical infrastructure cybersecurity efforts - both in uniform a...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow is joined by Kathryn Wang, Principal of Public Sector at SandboxAQ, for a wide-ranging and candid conversation about the critical role AI and quantum technology are playing in today's cybersecurity landscape.  Kathryn and Aaron break down complex concepts like quantum cryptography and the growing risks of deepfakes, data poisoning, and behavioral warfare - all with...

Welcome to another episode of Protect It All, where we dive deep into the world of IT and OT cybersecurity! In this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with Patrick Gillespie, OT Practice Director at GuidePoint Security, for a candid conversation that's as insightful as it is relatable. Patrick, whose journey has taken him from working in manufacturing and building freight trains to leading OT secu...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with longtime friend and colleague Scott Rosenberger, the cybersecurity leader for Vistra Corporation’s generation fleet. Together, they take a deep dive into Scott’s fascinating journey from an engineering background in nuclear power to overseeing cybersecurity across a sprawling, nationwide utility portfolio. You’ll hear insightful stories from the earl...

In this episode, Aaron returns from an action-packed week at Black Hat and DEFCON in the sweltering heat of Las Vegas. He shares his firsthand impressions on the changing atmosphere of these legendary conferences, from skyrocketing prices to a slightly thinner crowd, and digs into hot topics like the surge in AI discussions and the ongoing clash of perspectives between IT and OT professionals.  Aa...

Welcome back to Protect It All, the podcast where host Aaron Crow goes beyond the basics of OT to explore the dynamic intersection of IT and OT cybersecurity. In this episode, Aaron takes us inside a hacker summer camp in Las Vegas - home to industry giants Black Hat and DEFCON, where tens of thousands of security professionals gather each year.  Drawing from his years of experience attending thes...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow is joined by Kam Chumley-Soltani, Director of OT Security at Armis, for a candid conversation that dives into the ever-evolving landscape of OT (operational technology) and IT cybersecurity. After several rescheduling attempts across time zones and even parking lots, Aaron and Kam finally sit down to share their frontline experiences and insights from the world of...

In this solo episode, host Aaron Crow takes us on a fast-paced journey through the latest critical developments in both IT and OT cybersecurity. Aaron breaks down the month’s most pressing zero-day exploits, including high-profile attacks on Microsoft SharePoint and CrushFTP, and explores the implications of rapidly evolving threats - especially as attackers leverage AI for faster, more innovative...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow gets into one of the most pressing issues facing our future power grid: the explosive impact of AI, electric vehicles, and data centers on energy demand and what happens when cybersecurity gets left out of the equation.  As Texas and other states stare down a projected 50% surge in peak energy load by 2030, Aaron shares firsthand insights from his decades in the po...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow dives deep into the fast-evolving world of AI automation and its impact on cybersecurity. Aaron breaks down practical, real-world ways security professionals can leverage AI to streamline their workflows without breaking data loss prevention policies or putting proprietary information at risk.  From drafting reports and playbooks to automating repetitive tasks and...

In this episode, host Aaron Crow dives deep into the fast-evolving world of AI automation and its impact on cybersecurity. Aaron breaks down practical, real-world ways security professionals can leverage AI to streamline their workflows without breaking data loss prevention policies or putting proprietary information at risk.  From drafting reports and playbooks to automating repetitive tasks and...