Episode 32 — Build a Cybersecurity Program in OT: Risk Levels, Registry, and Maturity Assessment

This episode teaches how to build an OT cybersecurity program that is anchored in risk reality, where safety, uptime, and long equipment lifecycles require structure without creating friction that stops work. You’ll learn how to define risk levels in OT terms by connecting threat scenarios to operational consequences, then capture those risks in a registry that supports prioritization instead of becoming a spreadsheet graveyard. We explain what a risk register must contain to be useful, including asset scope, threat and vulnerability context, likelihood and consequence reasoning, ownership, treatment decisions, and an evidence trail that proves progress over time. The episode also introduces maturity assessment as a way to measure capability, not just control presence, so you can identify where process discipline is missing even if tools exist. You’ll practice choosing program building blocks in a safe sequence, starting with inventory and access governance, then monitoring and change control, then deeper control hardening, so improvements reduce risk without disrupting production. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.