Help Net Security

The Hidden Security Cost of Treating Labs Like Data Centers

In a Help Net Security interview, Rich Kellen, VP‑CISO of IFF, warns that treating operational technology (OT) labs like conventional IT data centers creates hidden security risks that can corrupt scientific results and endanger safety. He explains that OT environments cannot rely on backup‑based recovery because experiments are non‑deterministic and their integrity is paramount. Kellen highlights the need for outcome‑centric impact models, “good enough” visibility focused on communication flows, and risk‑based controls such as ISO 27001, while stressing collaboration with scientists to avoid counterproductive compensating controls. The interview underscores that misapplied IT frameworks can lead to irreversible data loss and regulatory exposure.