Tackling the Challenge of Operational Technology Security (E111)

What happens if a patch means replacing a half million-dollar piece of equipment?

In this week’s episode of Feds At The Edge, we are exploring the equal opportunity malicious actors see in operational technology. The good old-fashioned industrial equipment, assets and processes that are often the weakest link in the battle against cyber-attack.

We’ve gathered top agency and industry thought leaders who bring you’re their varied observations on these foundational issues, and how to reduce risk.

Tony DiPeitro, Technical Director for the Defense Critical Infrastructure Division with the NSA shares the challenge of operational technology being geographically disbursed, and as flexible as their cloud counterparts.

Brandon Tarr, Vulnerability Analyst for CISA takes us through the five-phase method that helps seek out weak points.

We’ll also pose the question, what happens when critical equipment such as an MRI machine is leaving its hospital open to attack because it’s running on windows 95. It’s not broken, but is it worth the risk not replacing?

That is the $500,000 question.