Network Security - Don't Fix the Engine While The Plane is Flying

Security Breach

Security Breach
Network Security - Don't Fix the Engine While The Plane is Flying
Oct 08, 2026 Eric Sorensen

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If there’s one area where the old adage of “you have to see it to believe it” might not resonate as strongly, it’s OT cybersecurity. I say this because one of the biggest challenges for our sector continues to be visibility. 

Although it’s clearly one of those blocking and tackling-type elements, identifying and securing all our assets, endpoints, connections and devices is tough. And not only do we know this – so do the bad guys, and they’re continuing to find new and creative ways to leverage these defensive soft spots in stealing data, extorting funds and shutting down operations. 

That’s why I was excited to bring in this episode's guest. Mitch Densley is a Principle Solutions Architect for Opengear. Watch/listen as we discuss:

  • Avoiding the temptation to "fix the engine while the airplane is flying" when it comes to network patching.
  • Why reliability and resiliency need to be treated like a "first class citizen" instead of being relegated to lower priorities.
  • Using AI to negate some of industrial cybersecurity's lacking resources.
  • The tools and strategies widely available to help manufacturers get a better vantage point of the expanding threat landscape - on their network and with OT assets.
  • Identifying and managing network vulnerabilities stemming from legacy infrastructure.

To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net,IEN.com or  MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast. And if you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

 

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To catch up on past episodes, you can go to Manufacturing.net, IEN.com or MBTmag.com. You can also check Security Breach out wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Amazon and Overcast.

If you have a cybersecurity story or topic that you’d like to have us explore on Security Breach, you can reach me at jeff@ien.com.

Episode Artwork Network Security - Don't Fix the Engine While The Plane is Flying 36:38 Episode Artwork Water Treatment Hacks Reflect Larger OT Threats 24:26 Episode Artwork Shadow AI Is Amplifying OT Threats 22:47 Episode Artwork AI is Fueling, Killing Ransomware 27:14 Episode Artwork Good Guys Also Use AI 26:35 Episode Artwork LISTEN: The Continuing Evolution of Ransomware 34:13 Episode Artwork LISTEN: Security Breach: 'Prevention is Damn Near Impossible' 34:52 Episode Artwork The Hard Realities of OT Cybersecurity 30:52 Episode Artwork Focus on Hitting Lower, Not Harder 43:38 Episode Artwork 'Defense in Depth is Dead' 35:36 Episode Artwork Countering New-Age, State-Sponsored Industrial Hackers 35:25 Episode Artwork Taking Down of a North Korean Remote Access Scam 36:41 Episode Artwork Multiple Paths to Zero Trust - Channeling D&D, LOTR and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 44:01 Episode Artwork The Bad Guy's Different Set of Rules 29:01 Episode Artwork Finding the Soul of a Pirate 37:35 Episode Artwork Analyzing, Responding to the Inevitable Uptick in Iranian Cyberattacks 36:38 Episode Artwork Hybrid Warfare is Upon You 31:34 Episode Artwork Security Breach: Strengthening Your Weakest Links 32:58 Episode Artwork Clarifying the Big-Picture Impacts of CMMC 41:23 Episode Artwork Shiny Objects and the Power of Preparation 44:22 Episode Artwork You Don't Have to Out-Tech the Hacker 40:55 Episode Artwork Speaking the Right Language 46:39 Episode Artwork Why People Are Not the Biggest Risk 49:03 Episode Artwork Preserving Uptime in the Face of Evolving Attacks 31:05 Episode Artwork New Patching Strategies for Old Vulnerabilities 26:12