In this episode, host Aaron Crow is joined by his longtime friend and fellow OT (Operational Technology) aficionado, Oren Niskin. Oren dives into his unconventional journey from Navy electrician to offshore rig automation, through to OT cybersecurity consulting—sharing the highs, the lessons learned, and the unique perspective gained from crawling through the “belly of the ship” rather than a college lecture hall.

Aaron and Oren discuss the real-world value of hands-on experience versus formal education, the evolving relationship between IT and OT teams, and why personal branding and communication skills are key for career growth in the cybersecurity field. They unpack the challenges and misconceptions around patching in the OT environment, and Oren reveals practical advice from his recent presentation on how organizations can dramatically reduce their vulnerability management workload while maintaining operational safety.

Tune in for thoughtful reflections, war stories from the rig, and actionable tips for aspiring and seasoned cybersecurity professionals alike—plus a heartwarming nod to inspiring the next generation. Whether you’re just getting started in OT or looking to take your cyber game to the next level, this episode is packed with honest advice and community spirit.

Key Moments:

05:58 College: Not the Ultimate Answer

08:26 Consulting Perspective Accelerates Career Growth

13:36 "Building Value with Personal Branding"

16:49 "Everyone's a Salesman Everywhere"

19:44 "Patching Essential for System Health"

21:14 Firmware Updates Resolve Most Issues

26:18 Robots Dominate Manufacturing Line

28:08 Prioritizing Critical Drilling Vulnerability Fixes

33:29 "Prioritizing Business-Critical Systems"

36:57 Cyber-Resilient Tech Design

39:20 "Virtualization Best Practices: Snapshot Safety"

41:18 OT Cybersecurity: Focus on Basics

44:37 Unexpected Changes Disrupt Startup Plans

47:44 "Building Trust in Business"

50:52 "IT-OT Collaboration Importance"

Oren Niskin – From the Navy to OT Cybersecurity: Bridging the Gap Between the Plant Floor and Secure Operations

Oren Niskin is an OT cybersecurity consultant with over two decades of hands-on industrial experience spanning the U.S. Navy, offshore drilling operations, and global OT network management. His career began not in a classroom, but aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, where he served as an electrician and shutdown reactor operator after enlisting in the Navy post-9/11.

Since then, he’s steadily climbed the OT ranks—from maintaining electrical systems at sea to managing IACS networks for a global fleet of drilling rigs, and now, advising critical infrastructure on how to secure their operational environments. Oren brings a rare combination of deep technical insight and real-world plant floor experience to the evolving challenges of OT cybersecurity.

He holds a Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology and a Master’s in Information Security Engineering from the SANS Institute. Oren is passionat...