Chris Kaffer

Author: Chris

  • Top 5 OT Security Topics Businesses Should Focus on in 2025

    Top 5 OT Security Topics Businesses Should Focus on in 2025

    Operational technology (OT) security is becoming more challenging as the world becomes increasingly interconnected. The systems we rely on for manufacturing, utilities, and critical infrastructure weren’t designed for today’s cybersecurity threats. While that creates challenges, it also gives us a clear path forward: adapt, prepare, and build resilience.

    Cyber threats aren’t going away. The question isn’t if your organization will face them—it’s whether you’re ready when they come. Here are five key areas to focus on in 2025 to help secure your OT environment.

    1. Enhance Endpoint Visibility and Risk Management

    OT endpoints—such as industrial PCs, HMIs, and IoT devices—are frequent targets for attackers. Many of these systems weren’t built for modern cybersecurity, and they lack the ability to support traditional EDR tools. This makes visibility and risk management critical.

    What you can do:

    • Deploy Endpoint Visibility Tools: Solutions like Nozomi Guardian, Dragos Platform, or Kaspersky Industrial CyberSecurity (KICS) provide telemetry and monitoring for OT endpoints, helping you detect risks before they escalate.
    • Build an Asset Inventory: Use platforms like Claroty CTD or Microsoft Defender for IoT to track all OT endpoints and prioritize their risks.
    • Focus on Patching and Configuration: Even if you can’t patch immediately, ensure systems are configured securely and limit access to critical assets.

    Improving endpoint visibility and managing risks effectively strengthens your entire OT security posture. For more foundational strategies, check out my article on active and passive monitoring for OT environments, which provides insights on how these techniques can enhance endpoint visibility.

    2. Build a Culture of Zero Trust

    In OT environments, trust isn’t an option. The “never trust, always verify” principle of Zero Trust is a must. This approach ensures that every user, device, and action in your system is treated with the same level of scrutiny.

    Key actions:

    • Segment Networks: Divide your OT systems into zones to prevent attackers from moving laterally.
    • Enforce Strict Access Controls: Require multifactor authentication and granular permissions for every user and device.

    Zero Trust isn’t just a toolset; it’s a mindset that helps build a more secure and resilient environment.

    3. Proactively Assess Cyber-Physical Risks

    Cyber-physical systems—where digital and physical processes meet—are prime targets for attackers. To protect these systems, you need a proactive approach that identifies and mitigates vulnerabilities before they’re exploited.

    Steps to take:

    • Conduct Regular Assessments: Evaluate systems frequently for vulnerabilities.
    • Leverage Digital Twins: Simulate your systems in a controlled environment to find potential weaknesses.

    Risk assessments are about being proactive rather than reactive, ensuring you’re ready for what’s next.

    4. Strengthen Supply Chain Security

    Your supply chain is critical to your operations, but it’s also a significant vulnerability. Every supplier, vendor, and third-party component adds another potential risk to your OT environment.

    What you can do:

    • Vet Your Vendors: Set clear security expectations and enforce them consistently.
    • Use SBOM Tools: Implement software bills of materials to track every component in your supply chain.

    By securing your supply chain, you reduce risks that are often overlooked but could have major consequences.

    5. Prepare for the Worst: Incident Detection and Response

    Incidents will happen—it’s inevitable. What matters most is how well your organization is prepared to respond.

    Instead of building a separate SOC for OT, integrate OT expertise into your existing security operations center (SOC) to streamline and strengthen your response capabilities.

    How to prepare:

    • Leverage AI and Automation: Use tools to monitor systems in real-time and detect anomalies.
    • Test Your Response Plans: Run regular drills to ensure your team knows what to do in case of an incident.

    The better your preparation, the faster and more effectively you can respond when something goes wrong.

    Bonus: Invest in OT Cybersecurity Training

    No system or tool can replace the importance of a well-trained team. As OT and IT continue to converge, investing in training equips your people with the knowledge and skills to navigate unique OT challenges confidently.

    What to prioritize:

    • Hands-On Training: Programs like CISA’s Advanced 301 training provide real-world experience in OT security, helping teams understand how to protect critical systems.
    • Bridging IT and OT Skills: Traditional IT teams often need training on OT-specific risks, protocols, and devices to work effectively in these environments.
    • Continuous Learning: Encourage ongoing education to ensure your team stays ahead of emerging threats. My article on OT training credentials explores whether certifications are necessary or if practical skills should take priority.

    When your team is empowered with the right knowledge and skills, they become your greatest asset in defending critical systems against evolving threats.

    Conclusion

    OT security will always have its challenges, but those challenges give us opportunities to grow stronger. By focusing on endpoint visibility, Zero Trust, proactive risk assessments, supply chain resilience, and incident response, you build a foundation of security that can stand up to the evolving threat landscape.

    Add to that a commitment to training and empowering your team, and you’re not just securing your systems—you’re preparing your organization to thrive, no matter what comes next.

    The threats are out there. The question is: will you be ready? Start taking steps today to protect what matters most.

    Resources

    CISA Training: https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/training

    Nozomi Network’s Guardian: https://www.nozominetworks.com/products/guardian

    Dragos ICS Technology: https://www.dragos.com/

    Kaspersky ICS: https://www.kaspersky.com/enterprise-security/industrial-cybersecurity

  • The Parallels Between Golf and Cybersecurity: A Game of Continuous Improvement

    The Parallels Between Golf and Cybersecurity: A Game of Continuous Improvement

    At first glance, golf and cybersecurity couldn’t be more different. One is played on sprawling courses under the sun, while the other often takes place in dimly lit offices filled with screens. But if you look a little deeper, you’ll find some fascinating parallels between the two. As someone who spends my days immersed in cybersecurity and my free time chasing that elusive perfect golf swing, I’ve realized these two worlds have a lot in common.

    Both are lifelong pursuits, where perfection is impossible but improvement is always within reach. Let me take you through some of the surprising ways golf and cybersecurity overlap—and why it matters.

    The Pursuit of Improvement

    In golf, no matter how many times you play, there’s always something to fix: your grip, your swing, your short game, you name it. You hit a great shot, but then the next one reminds you how far you still have to go. Cybersecurity is no different. You patch a vulnerability, only to discover two more waiting in the wings. The goal isn’t to be perfect—that’s impossible—but to keep getting better.

    The Lesson: Both golf and cybersecurity are about the journey. It’s the process of improving, even in small increments, that makes them rewarding.

    Managing Risks

    If you’ve ever stood on the tee box of a tricky hole, you know the feeling. Should you play it safe with a layup, or take the risk and try for the green? In cybersecurity, the same calculations happen every day. Should you invest in a flashy new tool, or stick with tried-and-true defenses? In both cases, you weigh the risks, evaluate the rewards, and make the best decision with the information you have.

    The Lesson: Whether it’s avoiding water hazards or cyberattacks, success comes down to smart risk management.

    Tools Are Nice, But Skills Are Key

    I’ll admit it—there’s nothing quite like the thrill of upgrading your golf gear. A new driver feels like a fresh start. But no matter how expensive your clubs are, they won’t fix a bad swing. The same goes for cybersecurity. You can buy the most advanced tools on the market, but without skilled people using them, they’re just expensive paperweights.

    The Lesson: Fundamentals matter. Whether it’s your golf swing or your network defenses, you can’t skip the basics.

    The Mental Game

    Golf is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one. One bad shot can mess with your head and ruin the rest of your round. Cybersecurity has its own mental challenges. A breach, an alert storm, or a looming deadline can cause panic if you’re not careful. In both cases, staying calm and focused is crucial.

    The Lesson: Your mindset can make or break you. The ability to stay composed under pressure is a skill worth mastering.

    Adapting to the Environment

    Every golf course has its own personality—windy fairways, tricky bunkers, and greens that break when you least expect it. Cybersecurity is no different. Every organization has its own unique threats, vulnerabilities, and challenges. You can’t approach a links course the same way you approach a parkland course, just like you can’t use the same security strategy for every organization.

    The Lesson: Adaptability is key. You have to tailor your approach to fit the conditions in front of you.

    Continuous Monitoring and Adjustment

    In golf, you’re constantly checking and adjusting—reading the wind, gauging the slope, and recalibrating your strategy based on how the game is going. Cybersecurity works the same way. Continuous monitoring is essential to catch threats in real-time and pivot when something unexpected happens.

    The Lesson: Pay attention. Success comes from staying alert and making adjustments when needed.

    Team vs. Individual Effort

    Golf might seem like a solo sport, but even the best players rely on caddies, coaches, and sometimes teammates in events like the Ryder Cup. Cybersecurity is no different—it’s a team sport. No single person can secure an organization alone. Collaboration is critical, whether it’s between team members or across departments.

    The Lesson: Behind every individual effort is a team working together toward a shared goal.

    Final Thoughts

    Golf and cybersecurity are about more than just the game—they’re about the mindset. Both require patience, resilience, and a commitment to getting better, one step at a time. The pursuit of perfection may be impossible, but that’s what makes them so rewarding.

    So, the next time you’re out on the course, trying to fix your slice, or sitting at your desk patching vulnerabilities, remember: It’s not about being perfect—it’s about progress. And that’s what makes it all worth it.

  • Cyber Espionage and Political Targets: Why Your Communications Must Be Encrypted

    Cyber Espionage and Political Targets: Why Your Communications Must Be Encrypted

    Recent reports have revealed yet another alarming cyberattack allegedly conducted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers. This time, the attackers targeted phone calls and communications belonging to very senior political figures, according to a U.S. official cited by Reuters. This escalation of cyber threats demonstrates how high-value individuals are increasingly in the crosshairs of sophisticated nation-state actors, underscoring the critical need for stronger digital security measures.

    The Latest Attack: High-Level Targets Under Siege

    The Reuters report highlights the troubling nature of this attack, where the focus shifted to intercepting the calls and communications of senior political figures. The specifics of the breach are not fully disclosed, but the intent is clear: to gather intelligence, compromise sensitive conversations, and potentially influence global political dynamics. State-backed cyberattacks of this magnitude pose risks not only to individuals but to national security as a whole.

    This incident follows the broader trends seen in recent attacks like Salt Typhoon (covered in my previous post), where large-scale breaches targeted telecommunications infrastructure. The same vulnerabilities exploited to access millions of users’ data can also be weaponized against prominent figures. These events highlight a disturbing reality: no one is immune to cyber espionage.

    Why End-to-End Encryption Matters More Than Ever

    The latest revelations reinforce the need for individuals—especially those in positions of power—to adopt end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for their communications. As discussed in my earlier post, E2EE ensures that only the intended sender and recipient can access messages, calls, or sensitive data. Even if attackers intercept the data, the encryption renders it unreadable without the necessary decryption keys.

    Senior political figures, executives, and other high-value individuals are prime targets for nation-state hackers. Adopting encrypted platforms like Signal or WhatsApp is no longer optional; it is a necessity.

    Practical Steps to Secure Communications:

    1. Use End-to-End Encrypted Apps: Platforms like Signal, WhatsApp, and iMessage should be the default for all sensitive calls and texts.
    2. Avoid Unsecured Networks: Public Wi-Fi networks are easy targets for interception.
    3. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Strengthen access to devices and apps with additional verification steps.
    4. Regular Software Updates: Ensure all systems and apps have the latest security patches.

    A Wake-Up Call for Leaders and Organizations

    This latest incident targeting senior political figures is more than just a headline—it’s a wake-up call for governments, businesses, and individuals. Cyber threats are evolving, and state-backed actors have the resources to exploit vulnerabilities on a massive scale. High-profile individuals and organizations must prioritize cybersecurity as a core element of their operations.

    Moreover, the same tools used to secure the communications of high-level leaders are available to everyone. Whether you are a political figure, a business leader, or an everyday consumer, protecting your communications with encryption is an essential step toward ensuring your data remains private and secure.

    Closing Thoughts

    The targeting of senior political figures in this latest attack demonstrates the far-reaching implications of weak communication security. As with the Salt Typhoon incident, these breaches reveal how critical it is to adopt encrypted solutions to safeguard personal and professional communications.

    Let’s take this as a reminder: encryption is no longer optional; it’s mandatory in the face of evolving cyber threats.

    Call to Action: Are you using encrypted platforms for your personal or professional communications? If not, what’s holding you back? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.