Akash Sandhu
Hi, I’m Akash. I’m a student who just finished an internship in the energy sector, where I got my first real exposure to OT security. I’ve also competed in events like Cyber 9/12 and the Cyber Leaders Challenge, which pushed me to think about how technical work connects with bigger strategic decisions. This is my first BSides talk, and I’m using it as a chance to share what I’ve learned about incident response in the physical world of OT.
Session
Many sectors of critical infrastructure need to control and automate their physical infrastructure with operational technology (OT). That means that any OT cyber attack requires an incident response that bleeds into the physical world. This brings with it unique challenges, such as real-time pressures, cross-border coordination, and safety concerns. This talk covers my recent experience in the world of critical infrastructure to tell the story of how responding to cyber-physical incidents changes the game.
Attendees will learn:
- The importance of cross team communication. Why cyber-physical incidents require collaboration across technical, operational, and even geopolitical boundaries
- How cascading effects can quickly escalate from system downtime to safety risks and societal disruption