Aaron Crow

It's the people and process side of people, process and technology that are really the biggest difference in OT versus IT. So that was my long rant of who I am and what I do and why I'm so passionate about this thing that we talk about.

It's the people and process side of people, process and technology that are really the biggest difference in OT versus IT. So that was my long rant of who I am and what I do and why I'm so passionate about this thing that we talk about.

Well, and it's always been that way. Even back when I was an IT person, my first job in IT was like a desktop support. And, you know, our joke was always like, if we take the users away, my job would be easy, right?

Well, and it's always been that way. Even back when I was an IT person, my first job in IT was like a desktop support. And, you know, our joke was always like, if we take the users away, my job would be easy, right?

yeah because because i can make the technology work it's the people that cause my problems like they they're clicking on something you know this is way back in the day dating myself but you know the the old school desktops the big tower things and we would literally have people use the cd-rom as you know coffee cup holders and then their cd-rom tray would break off and you know we don't have cd-rom trays anymore or even cds for that matter um

yeah because because i can make the technology work it's the people that cause my problems like they they're clicking on something you know this is way back in the day dating myself but you know the the old school desktops the big tower things and we would literally have people use the cd-rom as you know coffee cup holders and then their cd-rom tray would break off and you know we don't have cd-rom trays anymore or even cds for that matter um

Yeah. And it's the same in any industry, right? But speaking of, so I know you spend time and a lot of time in the agriculture. Before we started recording, we kind of talked about how it doesn't get as much limelight as some of the other more popular, I guess is maybe not the right term, critical infrastructure, power utility, oil and gas, even wastewater and water. But

Yeah. And it's the same in any industry, right? But speaking of, so I know you spend time and a lot of time in the agriculture. Before we started recording, we kind of talked about how it doesn't get as much limelight as some of the other more popular, I guess is maybe not the right term, critical infrastructure, power utility, oil and gas, even wastewater and water. But

There are 17 critical infrastructures in our country deemed by DHS and Department of Homeland Security. So why do you think, two things, why do you think that agriculture doesn't get the attention that it may deserve?

There are 17 critical infrastructures in our country deemed by DHS and Department of Homeland Security. So why do you think, two things, why do you think that agriculture doesn't get the attention that it may deserve?

And secondly, what are some of the common problems and maybe even unique problems that agriculture has in the space that we need to make sure that we're thinking about from an OT cybersecurity perspective?

And secondly, what are some of the common problems and maybe even unique problems that agriculture has in the space that we need to make sure that we're thinking about from an OT cybersecurity perspective?

Well, and we saw so many supply chain issues during COVID like it really brought to it. It brought to bear how bad our supply chain in general was. We're already concerned with global warming and population and all of these things. You know, the way that we do farming today with, they talk about how our topsoil is, we have limited... Yes, we're limited in how we can do that.

Well, and we saw so many supply chain issues during COVID like it really brought to it. It brought to bear how bad our supply chain in general was. We're already concerned with global warming and population and all of these things. You know, the way that we do farming today with, they talk about how our topsoil is, we have limited... Yes, we're limited in how we can do that.

And regenerative farming is the way of the future. But how do we feed everybody with that method? And there's just so many things that go into that. You hit on something that I repeated probably a hundred times this week in all the conversations in Vegas, talking at Black Hat and DEF CON. And it's OT a lot of the times. It's not sexy.

And regenerative farming is the way of the future. But how do we feed everybody with that method? And there's just so many things that go into that. You hit on something that I repeated probably a hundred times this week in all the conversations in Vegas, talking at Black Hat and DEF CON. And it's OT a lot of the times. It's not sexy.

The things that I need to do in the very beginning are not AI and quantum computing and all of these fancy buzzwords. Most of the time, it's very basic. You know, do I have a recovery plan? Do I know where my critical assets are? Do I have an asset list? Do I have a recovery option? Have I executed that thing? Does everybody know what part they play? It's usually basic, basic things.

The things that I need to do in the very beginning are not AI and quantum computing and all of these fancy buzzwords. Most of the time, it's very basic. You know, do I have a recovery plan? Do I know where my critical assets are? Do I have an asset list? Do I have a recovery option? Have I executed that thing? Does everybody know what part they play? It's usually basic, basic things.

tackling, right? And it's not all technology-based. Maybe, let's say it's 50%, which I don't even think it is that. Less than half of it is finding a technology solution, which there's some of the vendors that I work with that don't like it when I say that. I'm sorry, but it's the truth, right?

tackling, right? And it's not all technology-based. Maybe, let's say it's 50%, which I don't even think it is that. Less than half of it is finding a technology solution, which there's some of the vendors that I work with that don't like it when I say that. I'm sorry, but it's the truth, right?