Industrial Defender appoints Patrick Miller as strategic technical advisor

January 10, 2024

Industrial Defender, a provider of OT asset data and cybersecurity solutions for industrial organizations, announces the appointment of Patrick Miller as strategic technical advisor. Miller’s extensive work in the energy sector is expected to influence Industrial Defender’s next generation of security and compliance solutions.

With over 35 years of experience in IT/OT security and regulatory compliance, and extensive expertise with NERC CIP, Miller’s role will be pivotal in guiding the company’s technical direction and product strategy serving electric power utilities.

Miller’s career encompasses various influential roles across the energy industry, from overseeing ICS cybersecurity and NERC CIP compliance at electric power utilities to leading audits and investigations at the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), a regional entity of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

He is also the founder of EnergySec, where he played a pivotal role in supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in launching the National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization (NESCO). Today, he is the CEO and owner of ICS and OT security consulting firm Ampere Industrial Security.

“Patrick’s unparalleled expertise in NERC CIP and vast experience in the energy sector make him an invaluable addition to Industrial Defender as our new advisor,” Jay Williams, CEO of Industrial Defender, said in a media statement. “His technical insight and regulatory knowledge will significantly enhance our ability to deliver advanced cybersecurity and compliance solutions tailored for the complex and evolving needs of the energy sector.”

Miller added: “I am excited to join Industrial Defender, a pioneer and long-standing leader in OT cybersecurity. I look forward to partnering with them in their continued success supporting electric utilities, which they’ve done for almost two decades, since the earliest days of ICS security. Together we’ll work to advance Industrial Defender’s capabilities in alignment with emerging industry needs and the evolving regulatory landscape, executing on our vision for a more secure and resilient power grid.”

Miller joins Joy Ditto, who was also recently announced as a strategic advisor, in bolstering Industrial Defender’s innovation and excellence. With Miller’s emphasis on technical guidance and Ditto’s expertise in policy and government relations, this synergy promises to significantly benefit Industrial Defender’s large and growing base of electric utility users.

Last week, Industrial Defender launched Risk Signal, a risk-based vulnerability management (RBVM) solution. Building upon the company’s vulnerability assessment capabilities, Industrial Defender Risk Signal prioritizes vulnerability for the highest impact, integrating threat intelligence and the user’s specific business context.