OT CYBERSECURITY EXPERT

Pavithran
Ganesan

Cybersecurity Researcher | Consultant | Industrial Automation Engineer | Trainer | Mentor

Securing critical infrastructure with 12+ years of expertise in industrial automation and OT cybersecurity.

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Pavithran Ganesan

About Me

With over twelve years in industrial automation and cybersecurity, I've contributed to global projects addressing the unique challenges of securing complex systems.

Performed security assessments across critical environments including power generation, defense facilities, and pharmaceutical plants.
Built a compliance management tool aligned to ISO/IEC 27001 and IEC 62443 requirements.
Evaluated OT security products to support fit-for-purpose selection and deployment decisions.
Developed tools for OT protocol security testing to support validation and research activities.
Designed and delivered OT security training programs for public and private-sector organizations.
Contributed to cybersecurity training programs for power-sector officials under a national capacity-building initiative.
Led a cybersecurity lab initiative emphasizing applied research and hands-on learning.
Designed and facilitated a hybrid-format OT security hackathon focused on applied learning.
Actively participate in OT-focused capture-the-flag (CTF) exercises for continuous skill development.
CURRENT ROLE
Technical Expert
Cybersecurity Research & Advisory (global industrial technology firm)
LOCATION
India
RESEARCH AREAS
Level Zero Security
OT Incident Response
OT Protocol Security Testing
Virtual Twins for security testing

Focus Areas

I work across OT/ICS security with an emphasis on resilient industrial design, practical governance, and knowledge sharing for real-world operations.

Architecture and Resilience
Defense-in-depth, segmentation, and secure industrial design.
Governance and Risk
Standards-aligned security strategy and risk-informed decisions.
Security Enablement
Training, workshops, and playbooks for teams in critical environments.
Applied Research
Practical experimentation to validate defenses and improve readiness.

Certifications & Expertise

GICSP
GIAC Industrial Control Systems Professional
IEC 62443
ISA/IEC 62443 Fundamentals Specialist
Risk
ISA/IEC 62443 Risk Assessment Specialist
CEH
Certified Ethical Hacker
Azure
Microsoft Azure Security Engineer
Claroty
Claroty Implementation Engineer
OT/ICS Security
Cyber-Physical System Security, ICS Architecture
Standards & Governance
IEC 62443, Risk Assessment, Security Audits
Security Architecture
Network Segmentation, Defense-in-Depth
Industrial Protocols
Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850, PROFINET
Threat Modeling
STRIDE for ICS, Attack Path Analysis
Security Validation
Adversary simulation (authorized environments), security validation

Opensource Projects

Virtual Substation

Personal, educational, non-commercial project for OT security research simulating GOOSE messaging.

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RO-Cyber-Risk-Simulator

Interactive browser-based simulation of a desalination plant cyber-physical attack scenario, including operator-vs-attacker state, equipment degradation, and alerting.

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ICS DoS Training Lab

A realistic PLC-HMI simulation system for cybersecurity training, specifically designed to demonstrate DoS attacks on industrial control systems.

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Writing

LINKEDIN ARTICLE

⚠️ Why "just installing" anti-malware on OT systems can backfire ⚠️

Read on LinkedIn →
LINKEDIN ARTICLE

The Mighty 4-20mA: Resilient, Relevant, and Ready for Security Challenges

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JUL 12, 2025

Beyond the Buzzwords: What Really Happens When OT Security Fails

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APR 19, 2025

Beginner's Guide to OT Network Scanning with Nmap

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FEB 12, 2025

Building a Secure File Server for OT Labs

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Academic Background

My education bridges cybersecurity with instrumentation and industrial automation, grounding my work in both secure digital systems and real-world operational technology.

M.Tech in Cybersecurity
Specialized in security engineering, secure systems, and governance with an emphasis on risk-informed decision-making.
B.E in Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
Built strong foundations in sensors, measurement, and control systems that underpin industrial automation.
Diploma in Instrumentation and Control Engineering
Focused on instrumentation fundamentals including process measurement, calibration, and control, forming the practical base for work in industrial environments.

Let's Connect

Open to knowledge sharing, public speaking, and academic research collaborations

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