Ep 42: Troubleshooting OT Environments with Next-Gen Firewalls with Adam Robbie

In this episode, host Aaron is joined by cybersecurity expert Adam Robbie, the head of OT threat research at Palo Alto Networks. The discussion begins with Aaron sharing his extensive experience deploying Palo Alto firewalls in operational technology (OT) environments, highlighting the key troubleshooting and application-aware capabilities these firewalls offer.

Adam delves into his role at Palo Alto Networks, focusing on the critical task of identifying and mitigating threats in the OT landscape. He discusses the unique challenges of securing OT environments, including the convergence of various technologies and the necessity for proactive defense strategies.

The conversation covers important topics such as the importance of team collaboration across IT and OT, the complexities of deploying firewalls in OT situations, and the ever-evolving threats facing the industry.

Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of the intersection of cybersecurity and OT, and gain valuable insights from experts on the front lines of protecting critical infrastructure.

Key Moments:

00:00 Evolving Threat Analysis Focus

08:38 IT vs OT Firewall Responses

12:17 PLC Configuration and Remote Access Challenges

18:43 "Career Progress Through Strategic Moves"

23:05 Evolving OT Firewall Technologies

31:08 Malware Analysis and Threat Detection

35:34 Strategic Cybersecurity Using Game Theory

40:39 Hidden Vulnerabilities in OT Environments

44:44 Geographical Data Challenges in Analysis

49:24 OT Cybersecurity Segmentation Challenges

54:41 OT Systems: Challenges in Updates

01:00:02 Augmented Reality for Remote Problem-Solving

About the guest :

Adam is the Head of OT Threat Research at Palo Alto Networks since 2022, with over 15 years of OT and IT experience. He's a publisher with SANS, IEEE, and other conferences, focusing on securing critical infrastructure, finding vulnerabilities, and developing best practices. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Electrical Engineering and advanced certifications like GICSP and GRID. Adam also teaches cybersecurity bootcamps at top universities and advises on curriculum development. Previously, as a Senior Cyber Security Consultant at Deloitte, he specialized in ICS/IoT penetration testing, threat hunting, and vulnerability research.

Contact Adam at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrobbie/

Download the white paper here: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/whitepapers/ot-security-insights

Here is the link for S4 Session :

Calculating The Payoff For Attack And Defensive Strategies, February 11, 2025 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

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