Dino sits down with Mike Holcomb, Fellow and Director of ICS/OT Cybersecurity at Fluor, to explore the critical, and often overlooked challenges in securing operational technology.

From his early fascination with hacking culture to leading OT security for one of the world’s largest engineering firms, Mike shares personal insights and lessons learned.

The conversation covers the delayed cybersecurity maturity in OT environments and the lasting impact of the Colonial Pipeline breach.

They address the crucial role of visibility, engineering partnerships, and cultural buy-in when building secure industrial systems.

Whether you’re managing pipelines, power grids, or manufacturing floors, this episode delivers actionable insights and strategic foresight for leaders protecting our most vital infrastructure.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Why OT Security Still Falls Behind
• 00:01:03 - Mike Holcomb’s Unlikely Path to Cybersecurity
• 00:01:23 - Hacking Curiosity and a Love for Breaking Things
• 00:02:16 - From Network Admin to OT Defender
• 00:03:08 - Stuxnet, Colonial, and the Wake-Up Calls We Ignored
• 00:06:18 - When OT and IT Don’t Speak the Same Language
• 00:12:14 - Threats Are Getting Smarter — Are We Keeping Up?
• 00:26:29 - Evolving the Culture of Cyber Hygiene
• 00:32:14 - Final Takeaways for Security Leaders

Links And Resources:

• Mike Holcomb on LinkedIn
• Industrial Cybersecurity Insider on LinkedIn
• Cybersecurity & Digital Safety on LinkedIn
• BW Design Group Cybersecurity
• Dino Busalachi on LinkedIn
• Craig Duckworth on LinkedIn

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Industrial Cybersecurity Insider? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube to leave us a review!