Episode 21

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Published on:

26th May 2025

IT-OT convergence: How man and machine create security together!

Enhance your understanding of digital security with Cybersecurity shall be C-level priority!

In this episode, Dr. Gökhan Bal, Team Lead Cybersecurity Consulting at AONIC, joins Nico Freitag to dive deep into three key areas of modern cybersecurity:

IT-OT convergence, cyber readiness through real-world exercises, and the challenge of making cybersecurity measurable.

Together, they explore why blindly applying IT standards to OT environments often fails – and how understanding, communication, and shared responsibility are key to building a resilient organization. Dr. Bal shares insights from his own journey between IT and OT, and why tabletop exercises are one of the most underestimated tools for building real readiness.

💡 This episode covers:

  • IT-OT Convergence: Why real security starts with people, not just systems.
  • Cyber Readiness Drills: How tabletop exercises reveal gaps and build trust across silos.
  • CISO Reality Check: Why knowing who knows what is more important than knowing everything.
  • Security Metrics: From gut feeling to real data – how to measure what truly matters.
  • Practical Lessons: How even a backup key can become a single point of failure.

🎯 Key Takeaways:

  1. Convergence is not about merging systems – it's about aligning people.
  2. Real readiness comes from simulation, not documentation.
  3. Cybersecurity must be measurable – with facts, not feelings.

Whether you're a decision-maker in IT, OT, or cybersecurity – this episode gives you valuable insights to rethink readiness and resilience in your organization.

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👤 More Information

Dr. Gökhan Bal - LinkedIn-Profile - Webpage

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🚨 This Podcast is translated from the original content Cybersecurity ist Chefsache using AI technology to make them accessible to a broader audience.  🚨

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🎧 Take a look!

🎙Podcast - Cybersecurity ist Chefsache: @cybersec_ist_chefsache

🎙Podcast - Cybersecurity shall be C-Level priority: @cybersec_clevel_priority

🎙Podcast - Die Zwei Auftrag: Cybersicherheit: @diezweicyber


Join us as we dive deeper into the world of digital security.


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You can find me on these social media channels:

📸 Instagram: cybersec_clevel_priority

🕺 TikTok: cybersec_clevel_priority

🤝 LinkedIn: nicowerner

📌 Getting in touch - Podcast: Cybersecurity shall be C-level priority


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Your journey into the world of cybersecurity starts here – I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

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About the Podcast

Cybersecurity shall be C-level priority
Security begins with a click
The weekly podcast "Cybersecurity shall be C-level priority" serves as a platform where various experts from the world of digitalization and cybersecurity come together to discuss current topics, trends, and practical applications.

Host Nico Freitag invites friends, colleagues, or like-minded individuals from different industries to share their experiences and opinions, engaging in discussions on topics such as digitalization, cybersecurity, OT security, data protection, information security, and hands-on solutions.

This Podcast is translated from the original content Cybersecurity ist Chefsache using AI technology to make them accessible to a broader audience.

About your host

Profile picture for Nico Werner

Nico Werner

Moin! Ich bin Nico Werner, ein erfahrener Experte für Digitalisierung & Cybersecurity.
Seit meiner Kindheit begeistere ich mich für die Welt der Technologie und habe diese Leidenschaft durch meine Ausbildung zum Fachinformatiker vertieft. Besonders interessiert mich die Absicherung von OT-Systemen in industriellen Anlagen.

Seit 2012 habe ich in verschiedenen Firmen als Consultant, Projektleiter, Pre-Sales und im Management im Bereich Cybersecurity gearbeitet und wichtige Erfahrungen gesammelt.

Ich verfolge das Ziel, die Bedeutung der Cybersecurity den entscheidenden Stellen zu vermitteln und sicherzustellen, dass die Umsetzung und stetige Verbesserung dieser vorangetrieben wird. Dabei stehen für mich Menschen, Technologien, Prozesse und Organisationen im Mittelpunkt meiner Arbeit, um einen 360° Ansatz zu gewährleisten. Ich bin zusätzlich in diversen Gremien: UP KRITIS, VDI und IHK aktiv an der Verbesserung unserer Cybersicherheit beteiligt. Getreu meinem Motto "Cybersecurity ist Chefsache" bin ich davon überzeugt, dass die Absicherung von OT-Systemen von entscheidender Bedeutung ist. Ich unterstütze Unternehmen bei den Herausforderungen der Digitalisierung und helfe ihnen, ihre Organisationen, Prozesse und Technologien auf eine sichere Zukunft auszurichten.

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Hello there! I'm Nico Werner, an experienced expert in Digitalization & Cybersecurity. Since my childhood, I've been passionate about the world of technology, and I have deepened this interest through my education as an IT specialist. I'm particularly fascinated by securing OT systems in industrial plants.

Since 2012, I have worked in various companies as a consultant, project manager, in pre-sales, and in cybersecurity management, gaining valuable experience along the way.

My goal is to convey the significance of cybersecurity to key stakeholders and ensure the continuous implementation and improvement of it. People, technologies, processes, and organizations take center stage in my work, aiming for a 360° approach. Additionally, I actively participate in various committees such as UP KRITIS, VDI, and IHK to contribute to the enhancement of our cybersecurity. True to my motto "Cybersecurity shall be C-Level Priority," I firmly believe in the critical importance of securing OT systems. I assist companies in facing the challenges of digitization, helping them align their organizations, processes, and technologies for a secure future.