Episode 130
Cyber Leadership Under Pressure: Securing Growth in a Defense-Driven Manufacturing Environment
August 4th, 2026
46 mins 18 secs
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About this Episode
Cyber Leadership Under Pressure: Securing Growth in a Defense-Driven Manufacturing Environment
Cybersecurity looks very different when the systems you're protecting manufacture critical communications equipment instead of processing email, Brahman Thiyagalingham, Chief Information Security Officer at GME, to explore the realities of securing operational technology (OT) environments where uptime, safety, and business continuity often outweigh the instinct to immediately block every perceived threat.
Drawing from decades of experience across defense, banking, government, and manufacturing, Brahman explains why traditional IT security approaches don't always translate to factory floors or critical infrastructure. Through practical stories—including the controversial decision to temporarily halt enterprise patching to rebuild trust and establish a sustainable process—he demonstrates that resilience is built through people, process, communication, and thoughtful risk management rather than technology alone.
The conversation explores OT versus IT security mindsets, balancing availability with protection, moving beyond compliance checklists toward true resilience, and why today's security leaders must become exceptional storytellers capable of building trust across both executive leadership and engineering teams.
Whether you're responsible for cybersecurity, manufacturing, critical infrastructure, or digital transformation, this episode offers practical lessons on making high-pressure decisions when there are no perfect answers.
Show Notes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brahman-t-8213453b/