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Good cybersecurity requires IT/OT convergence

When an organization does not take advantage of potential synergies between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT), it might be leaving plant floor systems open to attack. In many organizations, the lines of communication […]

Unlikely cybersecurity targets are a myth

The Colonial Pipeline, Iranian Centrifuges, large financial companies and large companies in general, big cities – these are the notable targets of cyber attackers. Seen within this context, it is easy to assume your company […]

Disconnected cybersecurity systems are a myth

In February of this year, I had COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive. I thought I was reasonably “disconnected.” Turns out, I was not. You may think your manufacturing systems or industrial control systems are similarly […]

Dirk Sweigart
Dirk Sweigart
Dirk Sweigart is the MES solutions manager at Applied Control Engineering Inc. (ACE). He is responsible for the development and execution of manufacturing execution system (MES) projects for ACE. He also consults on information security (CISSP) for ACE clients. He is an experienced IT and systems project manager (PMP) with more than 35 years of experience planning and leading projects that develop manufacturing and business systems, lab automation, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), MES and process control systems with many diverse manufacturing processes. Sweigart is a member of MESA (Cybersecurity Working Group), and a senior member of ISA. He also teaches SCADA and cybersecurity in the graduate program at Wilmington University.