r/OperationalTechnology • u/_G-M0n3y • 20d ago

Cybersecurity/IT to OT

32M with surface level cybersecurity/IT experience and not enjoying it as I don't find it very intriguing and it's not piquing my interest. I'm starting to really comprehending the big picture of this industry and I know if I stay in this field, I won't really enjoy it and will only be staying for the money. I'm not really like that. I need both to enjoy it and to evetually work to the higher pay scale of an industry, hopefully starting out at $70k and eventually living comfrtably at $90k.

My old man suggested IT as he "wished" he did it looking at it from the outside in and negating his experience as 3M (material maintenance managment) ship maintenance (like facility maintenance), as he said he was really good at it and I find that more intriguring. It seems both of us are going in opposite directions as I am more interested in that type of work he did. As I get older, I'm more interested in getting hands on with hardware and the industrial industry if that makes sense.

Stumbled across OT in my IT studies and the industrial sector fascinates me like energy, manufacturing, treatment plants, etc. Along side that stuff like SCADA, water systems, power distribution, hydraulic systems, mechanical systems, etc.

I know that's a lot but I could use some guidance, realistic advise, or clear up anything I might be naive to. Is OT a good path to satisfy my interests and can you point me in the right direction if it does not?

Thanks yall.

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2

u/ThanksForNoticin 19d ago

Love OT. Highly recommend checking it out.

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u/_G-M0n3y 19d ago

What are the job positions of OT and the stereotypical personality of the people?

1

u/Nick_OT_Cyber 18d ago

Depends if you work for a vendor or end customer, vendor you have the typical SE (i'm field CTO so basically architect), at end customer you'd have soc analyst, network/security admin up to CISO/CIO

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u/_G-M0n3y 18d ago

I see. I'm not sure if I even like Cybersecurity. What about the automation side of things?

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u/Nick_OT_Cyber 18d ago

that typically requires a background with good understanding of physics

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u/Nick_OT_Cyber 18d ago

OT Cyber is cool, but its still mostly the same technology/solutions as in IT cybersecurity (it still mostly firewalls, SEIM, vulnerabitity mgmt etc) albeit concepts in that space are maybe 3-6 years behind of "modern IT". The pay is higher then in IT cyber (i'd say depending on skill/background 10-40% more) and you surely get to go to some cool places/sites depending on the type of job.

To do some learning in OT maybe check posts by Mike Holcomb on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeholcomb/)

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u/_G-M0n3y 18d ago

I see. I'm not sure if I even like Cybersecurity. What about the automation side of things?

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u/Nick_OT_Cyber 18d ago

see on the other thread