Andres Prieto Anton Interview
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the convergence of IT and OT has introduced both unprecedented opportunities and critical cybersecurity challenges. From safeguarding industrial control systems to balancing the priorities of uptime, safety, and agility, [Name] shares valuable insights into the world of OT cybersecurity. In this exclusive conversation with The UK Times, he explains his journey, the obstacles faced, and the technologies shaping the industry’s future.
A Transformative Journey
We started the interview by asking, “How did your journey from traditional IT roles lead you into OT cybersecurity, and what sparked your passion for securing industrial control systems?”
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “My transition began in IT, managing enterprise infrastructure and supporting cybersecurity frameworks. As digital transformation arrived to manufacturing sites and the need of gathering data from low level devices/Scadas and treat it on the plant or outside the plant raise my concern: these mission-critical systems weren’t designed with cybersecurity in mind and with proper infrastructure in place. That realization was transformative. Suddenly, protecting operational technology wasn’t just a technical challenge, it was a necessity. That ignition propelled me into OT cybersecurity, where I could merge my IT background with a growing purpose of safeguarding systems that keep industries running.”
Bridging the Divide between IT and OT
The UK Times:What are the greatest challenges you face when aligning the priorities of OT (uptime, safety) with IT (speed, flexibility), and how do you bridge this divide?
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “The tension between the IT focus on agility and the OT imperative for stability is real. OT environments demand uninterrupted operations and safety, while IT solutions, if applied without adaptation, can disrupt both. To bridge this, I emphasize Single Point of Contact concept, collaboration frameworks with both sides, secure design, using dedicated infrastructure, using network segmentation, zero-trust access, and industrial-grade firewalls tailored to OT needs.”
Building Resilience in Legacy Environments
The UK Times:How do you maintain operational resilience amidst the evolving threat landscape, especially with legacy OT systems still in use?
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “Legacy OT systems often lack fundamental safeguards, rendering them high-value targets. To counteract this, I prioritize real-time asset inventory and anomaly monitoring using protocols specific to industrial environments, such as tracking unauthorized changes in PLC programming or unusual HMI behaviors. This is complemented by integrating standards like IEC 62443 into our cybersecurity roadmap, along with proactive threat intelligence and response procedures. Also, having a good defense in layers allow you to mitigate most of the risk. Early detection paired with rigorous incident planning enables resilient operations.”
The Role of Emerging Technologies
The UK Times:What emerging technologies do you see shaping the future of OT cybersecurity?
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “Emerging tech offers exciting potential. AI and machine learning empower predictive anomaly detection by learning normal OT behaviors and flagging deviations. Digital twins let us simulate attacks or misconfigurations in a risk-free environment. Zero Trust Architecture ensures every access request is verified, reducing attackability. Making use of existing IT technologies into the OT world is also possible, even not deployed, managed in the same way: always having dedicated instances. Taken together, these innovations can drastically elevate cybersecurity, provided they’re implemented with careful alignment to OT constraints like real-time processing and safety requirements.”
Cybersecurity as a Shared Responsibility
The UK Times: How do you ensure that cybersecurity becomes a shared responsibility across your organization’s people and teams?
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “Technology alone isn’t enough, “human firewall” is key. Making focus on people with tailored awareness programs for different roles, from operators and engineers to executives, making them aware of the risk, making them participant of the cybersecurity it brings you the best ROI. Through phishing simulations, gamified training, and role-based protocol refreshers, we reinforce security awareness. A culture that encourages speaking up, where suspicious activity can be reported without fear, is vital. In essence, everyone becomes part of the defense rather than a passive element.”
Proactive Monitoring in Action
The UK Times:Can you share an example where proactive monitoring prevented a potential OT security incident?
Andres Prieto Anton replied, “Certainly. In one of my “working live company” our OT monitoring tool flagged an unauthorized modifications on a PLC from outside the designated engineering zone. Because of our well-defined detection systems and response protocols, we neutralized the issue swiftly with no operational impact. It was a powerful validation of embedding cybersecurity deeply into infrastructure and decision-making frameworks.”
Guidance for Future OT Cybersecurity Professionals
Lastly we asked, “For professionals aspiring to excel in OT cybersecurity, what advice would you give?”
“First, build a solid foundation in infrastructure (network, fw, operating systems, virtualization), system administration, and cybersecurity principles, then gain hands-on exposure to OT systems like ICS and SCADA. Pursue certifications such as ISA/IEC 62443 to ground yourself in industry-specific frameworks. Cultivate curiosity, embrace continuous learning, and explore threat intelligence and labs. Additionally, hone soft skills, as communication and cross-domain collaboration are just as vital as technical depth. The path is challenging but deeply rewarding.” Andres Prieto Anton concluded
Connect with Andres Prieto Antonon LinkedIn
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