Pub 2 2020-2021 Issue 3

An Interview with a Cyber Security Expert Terry Horn What is your background in cybersecurity? Also, how and when did you begin working at AUI? Cybersecurity is a vital area that requires all organizations to acknowledge, understand and implement it. Since we are all now living in an increasingly connected environment for everything from work to play, the scope of vulnerabilities significantly increases. As such, all fields of expertise are required to fully understand all the potential pivot points or areas that can be exploited. My first introduction to cybersecurity was while working as a chemical engineer at a large specialty chemical manufacturer. At that time, I focused on operational technology (OT) or industrial controls systems (ICS) and how they interacted with the physical process or the manufacturing environment. During that time, my focus was to ensure that the systems and processes were operating safely and ef ficiently. Cybersecurity was not the most important factor. Not until we started to move away from “air-gapped” or isolated systems to more connected environments did we consider the risks and implications of cyber events. Since our systems interact with the physical realm, our cyber risks in the OT environment needed to be recognized, evaluated and mitigated. AUI is a key driver for cybersecurity education, consulting and working partnerships. It allows us to leverage our passion for cybersecurity across all marketplaces and clients in both OT and traditional information technology (IT). We strive to help our partners recognize and solve dif ficult challenges while ensuring solutions are implemented based on the risks and resources of each client. As an employee at AUI for over two years, I value our mission and vision to help our clients understand, mitigate and manage cybersecurity challenges. According to the AUI website, it was chartered in 1946. What can you tell me about AUI’s history with respect to cybersecurity? AUI makes scientific breakthroughs possible. We enable scientists by managing and operating large scientific facilities, allowing the scientists to focus on the science. Much has changed over the years and to be a good management organization means keeping up with ever-evolving challenges and responding to changing needs. Our operational support enabled nuclear medicine, the first images of DNA, and more recently, the first image of a black hole. In 1946, cybersecurity meant locking the door to the computer room. Today, in order to prevent thef t of intellectual property and maintain business Associated Universities Inc. Director of Operational Technology As the technology and the population that leverages it both grow, we will experience additional cyber threats and new attack vectors. Areas that we see the most concerning are areas within the critical infrastructure space. 8 UP DATE