Lessons From 34 Years in OT Cybersecurity: Growth, Challenges, and Leading Change with Scott Rosenberger

Podcast: PrOTect It All (LS 27 · TOP 10% what is this?)Episode: Lessons From 34 Years in OT Cybersecurity: Growth, Challenges, and Leading Change with Scott RosenbergerPub date: 2025-08-25Get Podcast Transcript →powered by Listen411 - fast audio-to-text and summarizationIn this episode, host Aaron Crow sits down with longtime friend and colleague Scott Rosenberger, the cybersecurity leader for Vistra Corporation’s generation fleet. Together, they take a deep dive into Scott’s fascinating journey from an engineering background in nuclear power to overseeing cybersecurity across a sprawling, nationwide utility portfolio. You’ll hear insightful stories from the early days of OT cybersecurity - before most of today’s tools even existed - and how foundational principles like alignment, engagement, and standardization have driven years of progress.  Scott and Aaron reflect on the importance of building cross-disciplinary teams, developing strong communication strategies, and embracing the reality that real security is about continuous improvement, collaboration, and sometimes learning from mistakes. From tales of rolling out firewalls at power plants and negotiating with skeptical vendors, to lessons in leadership, trust-building, and the ever-evolving challenges of protecting critical infrastructure, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, industry anecdotes, and a look at what’s coming over the cybersecurity horizon. Whether you’re just entering the field or a seasoned pro, grab your headphones - you won’t want to miss this candid, insightful conversation. Key Moments:  04:37 Bridging IT and Cybersecurity 08:40 Revolutionizing Program Development Together 10:08 Building Consensus Through Communication 12:33 "Business Insights and NERC SIP Evolution" 17:18 Utility's Major Implementation Challenge 20:08 Corporate Cybersecurity Challenges Uncovered 21:58 "Automated Inventory and Cybersecurity Insight" 27:21 Optimizing Cybersecurity and Metrics 30:56 Essential Infrastructure Basics Lacking 34:17 "Identifying and Resolving Hidden Issues" 37:21 Encouraging Change in Industrial Practices 42:11 "Finding the Right Team Mindset" 46:11 "Importance of Pre-Job Briefs" About the guest:  Scott Rosenberger is currently the manager of Operational Technology for Luminant.  He developed the Luminant program to address the reliability, security and ongoing maintenance of Operational Technology for Luminant’s Fossil Generation Fleet.  He has a Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and is a registered professional Engineer in Texas.  In his 23+ years with Luminant he has worked in nuclear and fossil plants, many corporate roles and for 3 years as Director of IT Security and Compliance.  Scott also spent 3 years as a member of the NERC CIP drafting team. Links to connect Scott:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrosenberger/ Connect With Aaron Crow: Website: www.corvosec.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow   Learn more about PrOTect IT All: Email: [email protected]  Website: https://protectitall.co/  X: https://twitter.com/protectitall  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll  FaceBook:  https://facebook.com/protectitallpodcast    To be a guest or suggest a guest/episode, please email us at [email protected]   Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple   - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/protect-it-all/id1727211124 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1Vvi0euj3rE8xObK0yvYi4The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Aaron Crow, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.