204: OT Security Best Practices for Manufacturers with Fortinet's Rich Springer

Manufacturing Happy Hour

Is your shop floor as secure as you think it is? Innovation in the manufacturing world has made IT-OT convergence much more commonplace today, but is the industry taking the potential risks seriously enough?

In this episode, we hear from Fortinet’s Director of Marketing for OT Solutions, Rich Springer, about the real threats facing manufacturers within OT networks, and why effective OT security is a non-negotiable today...

Rich brings bags of experience to the table, from his early days in furniture and glass factories to his time as a Navy submarine officer and later as the global head of SCADA operations for a major wind turbine company. He shares how these experiences shaped his understanding of the unique cybersecurity challenges facing the manufacturing sector.

Painting a picture of how an OT threat can bring production to a standstill, Rich recommends that manufacturers use tabletop exercises to assess risk points and their impact on the whole production line. Rich also explains that part of protecting your OT network is about getting IT and OT teams to work together, and he gives practical advice on how to bridge the gap.

In this episode, find out:

• Rich explains Fortinet’s position on OT network security
• We hear about Rich’s diverse career background and how his previous roles prepared him for his role at Fortinet
• The current state of OT convergence and why companies are yet to take action
• Rich breaks the misconception that air gaps will protect manufacturers from digital threats
• Advice for better collaboration between IT and OT teams
• Rich explains why he’s optimistic that manufacturers are paying attention to the right things in security
• What the report says about manufacturers and their approach to OT systems today
• What it takes for cybersecurity experts to get executives to pay attention to the threats facing OT
• How to run a tabletop exercise to assess threat and impact on production
• What surprises Rich most about cybersecurity in manufacturing today

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The separation of duties should be decided on the tabletop exercise, not when the fire is burning.”
• “The technology has evolved. So therefore, it has made this air gap strategy a little less realistic over the years. And this is a common challenge.”
• “When the systems go down, they go to paper. So if the line hasn't stopped, what happens with our suppliers if we have to go paper? Take your tabletop exercise to that level.”

Links & mentions:

• Advancing Digital Transformation in a Time of Unprecedented Cybersecurity Risk, a report on how digital transformation in manufacturing has driven a widespread need for cybersecurity awareness
• 2024 State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity Report, Fortinet’s report on OT cybersecurity

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.