AI, OT Risk, and the Experience Gap in Cybersecurity
AI, OT Risk, and the Experience Gap in Cybersecurity
In a recent ExecutiveBiz Spotlight interview, Cloud Range CEO Debbie Gordon shared her perspective on where cybersecurity is headed next — and where many organizations are still falling short.
With nearly three decades of experience building and leading technology companies, Debbie brings a pragmatic lens to some of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the rapid evolution of AI-driven attacks, the under-addressed risks in operational technology (OT) and critical infrastructure, and a workforce that often has credentials but not enough real-world experience.
One of the key themes of the conversation is AI’s dual role in cybersecurity. Debbie explains how AI is accelerating offensive capabilities, enabling attacks that move faster and scale more effectively than ever before. At the same time, AI is becoming an indispensable tool for defenders — helping security teams cut through alert noise, prioritize real threats, and respond more efficiently. But as she emphasizes, AI is a tool, not a replacement for human judgment. Critical thinking remains essential, especially as organizations adopt generative AI across both security operations and everyday business functions.
Debbie also highlights an area that continues to be underestimated: OT and critical infrastructure security. From incomplete asset visibility to unclear ownership between IT and OT teams, these environments remain vulnerable, with real-world, life-safety consequences. She underscores the importance of helping teams understand how attacks actually move between IT and OT — and why hands-on, simulated experience is often the only way to make that risk truly visible.
The interview also touches on what Debbie describes as less a skills shortage and more an experience gap. Certifications and degrees alone don’t prepare defenders for real incidents. That gap affects both employers struggling to fill roles and early-career professionals trying to break into the field. Debbie discusses how hands-on simulation — in both enterprise and higher education settings — is helping bridge that divide by giving defenders experience they can apply under pressure.
👉 Read the full ExecutiveBiz interview featuring Debbie Gordon to explore these topics in more depth, including real-world government and critical-infrastructure examples, and Debbie’s view on how organizations can better prepare their people for what’s coming next: Cloud Range CEO Debbie Gordon Talks Future of AI & Underrated Cyber Struggles.
