In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, recorded live at ENTELEC 2026, we sit down with Dale Peterson, founder of S4 Events and one of the pioneers in ICS and SCADA cybersecurity.

With over 25 years in industrial cybersecurity, Dale breaks down a hard truth:

👉 Most OT systems are still insecure by design.

We dive into:

Why 80%+ of industrial systems remain vulnerable

The concept of “insecure by design” protocols

Why OT cybersecurity progress has been so slow

The real meaning of risk vs cyber hygiene

How to think about AI, cloud, and security in OT environments

Why “doing everything” in cybersecurity often does nothing

How to prioritize real risk reduction over checklists

This conversation challenges conventional thinking and gives operators, engineers, and leaders a practical framework for securing industrial environments.

🎧 If you're responsible for SCADA, OT, or critical infrastructure — this is a must-watch.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Live from ENTELEC 2026

00:40 – Meet Dale Peterson (S4 Events)

01:10 – How Dale Got Into ICS Cybersecurity (By Accident)

02:00 – The Origin of S4 Events & Building the ICS Security Community

03:00 – The “Cyber Poor” Problem in OT

04:00 – Why OT Cybersecurity Still Lags Behind

05:20 – “Insecure by Design” Systems Explained

06:30 – Why Nothing Has Changed (Yet)

07:00 – What Will Finally Drive Change in OT Security

08:30 – Keynote Breakdown: Connect, Consider, Consequence

09:00 – AI & Connectivity: New Risks Emerging

09:30 – Why Security Leaders Must PRIORITIZE (Not Do Everything)

10:00 – Rethinking Risk: Reducing Consequences vs Preventing Attacks

11:00 – Why CISOs Can’t Just Say “No” Anymore

12:00 – The Reality of Limited Resources in OT

13:00 – Why “Cyber Hygiene” Doesn’t Always Reduce Risk

14:00 – What Actually Moves the Risk Needle

15:30 – Purdue Model vs Unified Namespace Debate

17:00 – AI in OT: Security vs Value

18:30 – Protecting Data in the Age of AI

20:00 – Real-World Example: Remote Control Risks in OT

21:30 – Risk Management vs Blind Trust

23:00 – Where to Find Dale & Closing Thoughts

Presented by Opsite Energy: www.opsitenergy.com

Music: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com