Thank you for sharing this video! You’re highlighting an important distinction between active vs. passive monitoring, and you’ve framed the passive side really well — especially the physical realities of taps and choke points. I’d add a few points that reinforce and expand on what you said: Active monitoring brings strong visibility but introduces risk if misconfigured — for example, polling PLCs or DCS controllers too aggressively can cause performance impacts. That’s why many OT teams lean heavily on passive approaches in production environments. Passive placement strategy is indeed everything. Thinking in terms of traffic corridors (north–south for IT/OT, east–west within OT zones) helps prioritize where taps go. A single well-placed tap at a DMZ choke point may capture external access attempts, but without taps deeper in the control network (e.g., engineering workstation ↔ PLC), you’ll miss critical lateral activity. Layered passive visibility works best. Many mature OT programs use multiple taps or SPANs aggregated into a collector, then normalize traffic in a monitoring solution. This avoids blind spots while also reducing analyst overload. Time and movement also matter — unlike IT networks, OT communications are highly deterministic. So, if you miss traffic at the wrong location, you might miss it entirely. Periodic validation of tap locations against evolving process communications (like new controllers, firmware updates, or vendor remote access) is essential. In short: active gives control, passive gives safety, but passive only delivers its full value when placement and coverage are deliberately engineered around both process-critical choke points and peer-to-peer pathways inside the control environment.

🏢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 For the last decade, organizations have poured billions into defending networks: firewalls, SOCs, red teams, awareness campaigns. In 2025, global cybersecurity spend will hit $213B. And it worked. Hacking into most corporate networks today is far harder than it was ten years ago. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅: The smarter our buildings become, the easier they are to break into Why? Because your badge readers, door controllers, BMS systems, and IP cameras are not “security devices” anymore: they’re networked computers with IP addresses. Many are outdated, unmonitored, and not clearly “owned” by IT, Security, or Facilities. Attackers don’t need to bypass your firewalls. With the right exploit, they can open your doors, ride your elevators, or switch off your surveillance. 💡 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Today, smart buildings have flipped the equation. So the real question is: 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗢, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 , 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀? Because if not, why would an attacker waste weeks trying to hack your network, when they can simply unlock your doors and walk right in? #CyberSecurity #SmartBuildings #PhysicalSecurity #CISO #AccessControl

🏢 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 For the last decade, organizations have poured billions into defending networks: firewalls, SOCs, red teams, awareness campaigns. In 2025, global cybersecurity spend will hit $213B. And it worked. Hacking into most corporate networks today is far harder than it was ten years ago. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅: The smarter our buildings become, the easier they are to break into Why? Because your badge readers, door controllers, BMS systems, and IP cameras are not “security devices” anymore: they’re networked computers with IP addresses. Many are outdated, unmonitored, and not clearly “owned” by IT, Security, or Facilities. Attackers don’t need to bypass your firewalls. With the right exploit, they can open your doors, ride your elevators, or switch off your surveillance. 💡 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗼, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. Today, smart buildings have flipped the equation. So the real question is: 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗢, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 , 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀? Because if not, why would an attacker waste weeks trying to hack your network, when they can simply unlock your doors and walk right in? #CyberSecurity #SmartBuildings #PhysicalSecurity #CISO #AccessControl

Cyber risk in buildings is no longer theoretical. The numbers speak louder than words. 📌 2,000+ connected IoT and security devices in every U.S. commercial building 📌 55% -75% of companies already hit by cyberattacks in the past year 📌 5 to 6 million dollars is the average cost of a single building cyber breach Investing in protection delivers measurable ROI. Ignoring it guarantees multi million dollar losses. The only real question is: who in your organization owns the cybersecurity of your buildings and facilities? #CyberSecurity #SmartBuildings #IoT #CISO #OperationalResilience

🔐 Cybersecurity Tip of the Day: Lock Your Screens It sounds simple, but one of the easiest ways to protect your business data is to lock your screen whenever you step away from your device—even for a minute. ⚠️ Why it matters: Unattended devices can expose sensitive files or emails. Shared offices, co-working spaces, or even family members at home can accidentally access business systems. Physical access = the fastest shortcut for attackers. ✅ How to stay safe: Get in the habit of hitting Windows key + L (Windows) or Control + Command + Q (Mac) when you step away. Set your devices to auto-lock after a few minutes of inactivity. Use a strong password, PIN, or biometric login to unlock. Cybersecurity isn’t always high-tech—sometimes it’s about simple, everyday habits. At Forge, we help businesses build the right security habits and systems to stay protected. Ready to take the next step? 📩 Visit us at https://hubs.ly/Q03FPWqX0 #cybersecurity #smallbusiness #forge #DigitalSafety #DataProtection #InfoSec #WorkplaceSecurity #BusinessContinuity #CyberSmart

💻🛡️ Every endpoint is a potential entry point — but it doesn’t have to be a weak point. With cyberattacks targeting laptops, desktops, and mobile devices daily, traditional endpoint tools often react after the damage is done. Xcitium Endpoint Security delivers prevention-first protection: ✔ Default Deny + Auto-Containment – Blocks unknown files instantly. ✔ Zero Dwell Time – Threats never get a chance to execute. ✔ Lightweight & seamless – No disruption to end users. ✔ Integrated with XDR & Zero Trust – Unified, airtight security. 💡 The result? Endpoints that stay productive, protected, and resilient — no matter what’s coming their way. #Xcitium #EndpointSecurity #ZeroTrust #ZeroDwell #CyberSecurity #ThreatProtection #CISO #TechInnovation

We've built the roads (networks) and chosen the layout (topologies). Now, it's time to add the security gates, guards, and surveillance cameras. Wrapping up two weeks of networking fundamentals, Today's focus is on the crucial next step: Network Security Basics. This is where we shift from just making things work to making them work safely. Key Concepts: Defense in Depth: This is a core principle. It means not relying on a single security measure. Instead, you layer multiple defenses (firewalls, IDS/IPS, access control) so that if one layer fails, others are still in place to stop an attack. Access Control: This is about ensuring users can only access the resources they are explicitly authorized to use. A key part of this is the Principle of Least Privilege—giving someone the minimum level of access required to do their job, and nothing more. Network Monitoring: You can't protect what you can't see. This involves using tools like Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and packet sniffers to constantly watch network traffic for suspicious activity or policy violations. A strong foundation here is what separates a secure network from an easy target. What do you consider the single most important 'basic' network security control for a small business? #Cybersecurity #InfoSec #Networking #NetworkSecurity #DefenseInDepth #AccessControl #PenetrationTesting #EthicalHacking

🚨 Top 5 Networking Security Best Practices 🚨 In today’s digital world, securing your network is no longer optional—it’s essential. Whether at home or in the workplace, a weak network setup can open doors for hackers, data theft, and cyber attacks. Here are 5 best practices you should adopt right away: 1. Use a VPN – Encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, especially useful on public Wi-Fi. 2. Change Default Router Passwords – Default credentials are the easiest way attackers break in. Use strong, unique ones. 3. Enable WPA3 on Wi-Fi – Upgrade your Wi-Fi security. WPA3 offers stronger encryption than outdated WPA2. 4. Keep Devices Updated – Regular updates patch vulnerabilities in routers, phones, and computers. 5. Use Strong Firewalls – Firewalls act as security gates, filtering malicious traffic before it reaches your devices. 💡 Always remember: A secure network = A safer digital life. Let's goooooo! #ProgrammingBuddies #LearningCyberSecurity #Networking #CyberAwareness

Drowning in Alerts? Augur Security Cuts the Noise with Near-Zero False Positives. SOC teams are overwhelmed by a constant barrage of alerts, many of them false positives. This alert fatigue leads to burnout and missed critical threats. Augur Security changes the game. With a near-zero false positive rate (.007%) and autonomous enforcement, we don't just reduce alerts – we eliminate the noise. Our platform automatically blocks threats before they ever reach your environment, freeing your team to focus on what truly matters. Reclaim your SOC's efficiency and effectiveness. #Cybersecurity #AlertFatigue #SOCOperations #AIinSecurity #AutonomousSecurity #AugurSecurity