Seven Steps to a Sustainable Industrial Security Program

Episode 2 of the CISO's Guide to OT Security with Chris McLaughlin walks through seven practical steps to build a sustainable industrial security program. This episode focuses on how to fix common OT security mistakes by bridging the gap between IT and OT and creating lasting, operationally controls.

Step 1: Admit you have a problem and secure executive and engineering buy-in by showing realistic OT threats such as remote access risks, ransomware spillover, and unsafe third-party access.

Step 2: Add an OT translator to your security team — an engineer or consultant who can communicate OT realities to IT and lend credibility to the program.

Step 3: Understand the critical business and OT processes through plant tours and discussions so you can prioritize protections where they matter most.

Step 4: Inventory OT assets carefully after you have organizational context; use passive tooling and the OT translator to avoid disrupting operations and map zones and conduits per ISA/IEC guidance.

Step 5: Add value to operations (backups and failover checks, virtualization reviews, investment support, operational fixes) so OT teams welcome the security effort rather than resist it.

Step 6: Implement OT governance based on standards like ISA-IEC 62443, starting with the most critical controls and improving the program iteratively.

Step 7: Keep it real — involve operators, maintenance staff and contractors, tie security into safety messaging, run tabletop exercises, and provide clear, practical awareness training.

The episode closes by emphasizing the importance of a cooperative IT–OT relationship and invites feedback at chris@theotpodcast.com. Tune in to episode 3 for a deep dive into common OT cyber threats and mitigation strategies.