Hiring for the Frontlines of Critical Infrastructure with Nathaniel Smith

What does it take to build a cybersecurity workforce capable of protecting the systems that keep the lights on and food on our plates? In this episode, host Kristin Demoranville is joined by Nathaniel Smith, Co-Founder and VP at SR2, a purpose-driven recruitment firm. Nathaniel, who specializes in hiring OT/ICS, brings over 14 years of recruiting experience and a refreshing dose of honesty to the challenges of hiring in critical infrastructure. Together, they explore what makes a strong Operational Technology (OT) candidate, why culture fit matters as much as technical skills, and how broken hiring processes often keep the best people out. For sectors like food and agriculture, where operational technology is directly tied to safety, production, and public trust, getting the right people into the right roles isn’t just important. It’s essential. --------------- Show Notes: Mike Holcomb’s Episode (here) SEC Ruling on Disclosure of Cyber Incidents (here) 📘 Sign up for early updates, exclusive previews, and launch news of Kristin’s book, “Securing What Feeds Us” (working title) here. 📖 Kristin will also be sharing updates, behind-the-scenes chaos, and the occasional existential crisis over on her personal Substack 🎤 Book Kristin Demoranville to speak at your conference, corporate event, or workshop. --------------- Episode Key Highlights 00:04:50 – OT as Public Service 00:08:27 – Recruiter Perspective in OT 00:09:42 – What Makes a Good OT Hire 00:12:04 – Trust and Floor Experience 00:13:59 – OT vs. IT Culture 00:18:09 – The Talent Shortage Myth 00:20:18 – Broken Hiring Systems 00:22:50 – Job Descriptions That Miss the Mark 00:27:00 – Current OT Hiring Trends 00:29:30 – Who’s Hiring in OT 00:32:00 – Community in OT 00:33:00 – Why Specialized Recruiting Matters --------------- 🎤 Bites and Bytes Podcast Info: Website: Explore all our episodes, articles, and more on our official Website.   Merch Shop: Show your support with some awesome Bites and Bytes gear! Socials:  TikTok; Instagram; LinkedIn; Substack --------------- 🛡️ About AnzenSage & AnzenOT AnzenSage is a women-owned cybersecurity advisory firm specializing in security resilience for the food, agriculture, zoo, and aquarium industries.  AnzenSage offers practical, strategic guidance to help organizations anticipate risks and build resilience.  Learn more about their offerings at anzensage.com.​ AnzenOT Industrial Cyber Risk — Simple.  Smart.  Swift. AnzenOT is the SaaS risk management platform built to bring clarity and control to Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity.  Designed for critical infrastructure sectors, AnzenOT translates technical risk into clear, actionable insight for decision-makers. Sign up for a free trial (here) Explore the platform at anzenot.com For demo requests or inquiries, email [email protected] or [email protected]

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