Cybersecurity careers are one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand professions in the job market. As more businesses and corporations realize the importance of cybersecurity, the number of unfilled cybersecurity jobs is growing exponentially.
Many cybersecurity professionals work within their company or organization’s Information Technology function. At Rockwell Automation, cybersecurity professionals often deal with the additional dynamic of protecting our customers’ manufacturing and plant floor operations. This is where the focus on Operational Technology (OT) becomes important.
“OT has a much different level of prioritization. The security need is still there, but the effect of downtime for OT applications is measured in thousands of dollars a minute, especially if it is unplanned,” says Kelly Richie, Senior Manager, Global Managed Services. “The application is key here. As we look at use cases for our solutions, a lot of value is placed on application and integration with the existing plant floor architecture. Getting that part right is key to having a successful and sustainable solution.”
The career opportunities at Rockwell are unique and specialized, allowing professionals to build on an IT-focused foundation to strengthen their OT cybersecurity skills.
Acquisitions, partnerships fuel innovation
Thanks to Rockwell’s innovative approach to meeting customers’ digital transformation needs, the industrial automation company is fast emerging as a trusted cybersecurity leader for customers all over the world.
The focus on cybersecurity at Rockwell has strengthened in recent years, with strategic acquisitions Avnet Data Security and Oylo helping to provide comprehensive industrial cybersecurity services and protection for customers. Partnerships with cybersecurity providers like Cisco, Claroty and Dragos further bolster service offerings. Cybersecurity customers span many of the industries Rockwell serves, in focus areas ranging from critical infrastructure and pharmaceuticals to automotive and food & beverage.
Rockwell established a Security Operations Center (SOC) in Israel in 2021. Since then, the team has continued to grow to support our cybersecurity offerings which provide customers with threat detection, continuous real-time monitoring and incident response, and network insights for protection across the attack continuum.
It’s crucial for Rockwell to not only lead with the best technology in place but also to fully understand how customers’ businesses work. To best serve customers, Security Operations Center (SOC) and remote support center team members are in key regions throughout the world, including Israel, India, Singapore, the United States, Spain, Chile, Columbia and more.
“We focus on helping our customers scale their existing cybersecurity capabilities to operate in a millisecond environment where the safety of people, assets, and IP converge. We also provide consultative services to lend our knowledge to customers who are developing their OT cybersecurity journey,” says Matt Kennedy, Senior Director of CSM Service Delivery.
“It is truly a place to learn and teach because of our thought leadership in cybersecurity,” Kennedy adds.
Understanding OT cybersecurity roles It’s critical for candidates to understand the difference between the OT and the IT sides of cybersecurity, says Gal Akavia, Security Analyst located in Rockwell’s Tel Aviv, Israel office. A cyberattack in an IT organization will likely be limited to a monetary impact – whereas a cyberattack in an OT environment can cause catastrophic damage beyond the bottom line, impacting resources, infrastructure, and even human lives.
“We need to understand the importance of the missions we are a part of,” Akavia says.
Those in cybersecurity analyst roles are expected to be both reactive and proactive: reactive to immediately investigate suspicious or malicious activity, and proactive to continue to learn and gather information about new tools and tactics that are used by threat actors throughout the world.
“Being proactive lets us extract indicators on how threat actors think and behave, and to implement those insights in our software protection solutions,” Akavia says. “This kind of activity lets cybersecurity team members improve our skills and always be in an ongoing state of improvement.”
Akavia, who joined Rockwell a few years ago when Avnet Data Security was acquired, is grateful to work at an organization that appreciates and respects its cybersecurity analysts and all SOC and remote support team members.
“We can make an impact on our customers and on the world, improving our way of life and strengthening our defense role and security solutions. I think it's a blessing that we have an organization that knows the importance of our missions. Our cybersecurity analysts know what they are part of. And at the end of the day, it's very satisfying,” Akavia says.
OT cybersecurity protects an organization's IP and the capital assets that produce the products that produce revenue for a manufacturer. But it also protects a company’s most important assets: its people, says Kennedy.
“When attacks happen in a manufacturing environment, equipment failure, machinery operating parameters, and safety measures can be compromised, and catastrophic events can happen. Protecting IP is assumed in the OT environment. But understanding the manufacturing/OT environment and the catastrophic events that can occur make OT cybersecurity about protecting IP, expensive assets, supply chains and most importantly people’s physical safety,” Kennedy says.
Be part of an exciting evolution
Beyond cybersecurity, Rockwell Automation is undergoing an exciting evolution, helping industrial automation customers digitally transform to meet the ever-evolving needs of their customers and the world. The emphasis on ethics, sustainability, employee engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion is what draws many employees to work here – and to stay.
“The company works as hard for the employees as our employees work for our customers,” Richie says.
“Right now, the investment and strategy for the future of Rockwell centers around increasing our value to customers with services, solutions, and cybersecurity. It is incredibly exciting to see the integration of new talents with our more traditional ones - and the innovation that results.”
Growing cybersecurity careers
Joining a company that is rapidly growing in the cybersecurity space will allow employees to grow their careers and advise customers, peers and partners while on a highly engaged and energized team, Kennedy adds.
“We have access to many global manufacturing customers who need our help. And career paths are limitless because of the growth potential. Our work drives direct results to our customers’ operations and our capabilities and is highly visible and strategically important to the company’s growth strategy,” Kennedy says.
If you want to be part of something big and something that will continue to be a focus with high visibility in a renowned company, now is the time to join, Kelly says. Learn more about open positions, hear from our employees about what it’s like to work at Rockwell, and join our Talent Network to sign up for job alerts by visiting our Cybersecurity Careers page.
