The world is a beautiful, large, and wondrous place, and the people who inhabit it bring diversity in culture and customs that truly delight our senses. This is why we travel, and I caught the bug at a very young age. During those trips it was immediately evident, even to a youngster, that communication was an integral part of the experience, the key to understanding and connecting with people in unfamiliar places.
To scratch this itch, I began studying foreign languages in school, starting with French and then Spanish. A trip to Paris one spring break brought it all to life. Even when they spoke at a hundred miles per hour, I could follow along, ask questions, and order off a menu, each little exchange made the experience feel richer. Later, studying abroad in China and Switzerland, I was challenged to learn new languages and customs, and gradually became more confident by practicing, listening, and engaging in conversation.
So when I started working in the cybersecurity industry, particularly OT security, I saw how language plays a role here too, at a more technical level. At Industrial Defender, we work with customers who are trying to understand what’s happening inside their critical infrastructure. And I realized their environments are full of different “languages” as well — from native OT protocols like Modbus and DNP3, to IT interfaces like SSH and HTTPS, to proprietary communication methods unique to specific vendors.
And just like in all languages, there are rules. Beyond just being able to understand each other, there are the right way to say things, and the wrong way. In foreign languages, you might really offend someone if you don’t show the right level of respect. I’ve learned that there also very wrong way to speak to OT devices, and the stakes are even higher. Someone once joked to me that some systems are so sensitive, they’ll trip if you even look at them the wrong way. Interacting improperly with these devices, like scanning them too aggressively or using a protocol they don’t expect, can actually cause downtime or safety incidents.
Just like learning a new language, understanding your OT environment requires ongoing effort and practice. You have to listen closely, understand the nuances, and know how to respond appropriately. And in complex industrial environments, that fluency is not something you gain overnight; it helps to work with partners who already have experience navigating these systems day in and day out.
Working at Industrial Defender, I’ve come to recognize that customers value our experience in the field. We’ve spent years building a deep understanding of how to safely and effectively communicate with OT assets, speaking the many “languages” of machines without causing disruption.
I know it’s not exactly what we do, but when friends or family outside the industry ask me about my job, I sometimes say our platform is like the Duolingo of OT security. We help organizations “talk to” their devices in the right way — and “listen” for changes or risks — using a blend of collection techniques tailored to each environment, including:
This multi-lingual approach allows us to adapt how we communicate based on each device’s sensitivity and capability. The key is knowing which is which, and having the tools to listen and speak accordingly.
Understanding how to speak the languages of your OT assets is key to staying ahead of cybersecurity issues. When you can safely and effectively monitor for change, misconfigurations, or other cyber risks, you gain the visibility needed to protect critical operations.
To learn more about Industrial Defender’s OT asset management approach and how we help you communicate safely across your environment, check out our data sheet below.
