Your Factory Is Wide Open: How to Lock Down Connected Machines Before It’s Too Late

Legacy machines were never designed to be connected—or protected. But in modern manufacturing, connectivity is a must. So how do you protect your business when the shop floor is now on the network?

In this episode, Justin talks with Tory Bjorklund, manufacturing consultant and author of Digital Transformation Guidebook, about the surprising ways attackers exploit connected machines, what most companies still get wrong, and how to secure industrial systems without breaking your operations.

In this episode:

• Why shop floor devices are a cybersecurity risk
• The threat of PLCs, HMIs, and remote access
• How one-way data flows can prevent ransomware
• Using segmentation, firewalls, and MFA to keep attackers out
• What AI can (and can’t) do for modern manufacturers

Guest Links: https://victoriafide.com/

This week on UnHacked, we’re talking with Brad Groux (cybersecurity engineer, tech founder, and co-host of The Digital Meld podcast) about how AI is quietly shaping how we build, manage, and lead our businesses.

From SMBs to the enterprise, Brad has worked with it all. In this episode, we break down:

• Why we’re already outsourcing leadership decisions to AI (and what to do about it)
• How SMBs can avoid tech fatigue while still innovating
• The new risks AI introduces, and how to defend against them
• Why cybersecurity and business growth are now inseparable

Whether you're an MSP, a manufacturer, or a business owner trying to stay ahead of the tech curve, this episode gives you a candid look at what’s coming next and how to lead through it.

🔗 Guest links
🌐 DigitalMeld.io
🎙️ The Digital Meld Podcast

Password fatigue isn’t just annoying—it’s expensive and dangerous. In this episode of UnHacked, Raul Cepeda Jr. from rf IDEAS breaks down the hidden costs of password dependence and shows small businesses a better way forward. From clinicians wasting hours re-logging into systems to the real risk of password-related breaches, Raul makes the case for going passwordless—safely, securely, and affordably.

🔗 Learn more at rfideas.com
🔗 Explore passkey adoption at fidoalliance.org

In this episode of UnHacked, cybersecurity strategist Brett Gallant walks us through a real-world disaster—a manufacturing plant brought to its knees by an unsecured remote access tool. We break down what went wrong, how it could’ve been prevented, and why business leaders must stop assuming their IT support has cybersecurity covered.

If you’re a manufacturer—or any business relying on third-party tools and vendors—this is a wake-up call you can’t afford to miss.

🔗 Learn more about Brett’s work at adaptiveoffice.ca
📘 Why Your Business Must Have Cybersecurity Risk Assessments → Amazon

What would happen if your entire business was encrypted overnight? No files. No access. No plan.

In this episode of UnHacked, we sit down with Michael Ritsema—cybersecurity strategist and President of i3 Business Solutions—who’s helped multiple companies survive full-scale breaches. Together with co-hosts Bryan Lachapelle and Mario Zake, we unpack what actually happens when things go sideways, why most CEOs think they're covered (but aren't), and how to make your business bulletproof—starting today.

This episode is for every business owner who’s ever thought:
🧠 “That won’t happen to us.”
🧠 “We have IT—we’re fine.”
🧠 “We’ll deal with it if something comes up.”

Don’t wait until “something” shows up. Learn how to lead your company through the #1 operational risk of the decade—and how one company was saved by a $300 tape backup.

🎧 Listen in. Take action. Keep your business UnHacked.

Three small business owners are about to discover why their $150 inspection costs are bankrupting them—and how one diplomat's experience in Syrian war zones revealed the game-changing solution.

In this eye-opening episode, cybersecurity experts Justin, Bryan, and Mario sit down with Mounir Ibrahim, former US diplomat and Chief Communications Officer at TruePic. Mounir shares how witnessing fake images derail international investigations led him to a technology that's revolutionizing how businesses verify digital content.

What You'll Learn: • How to eliminate $150 inspection fees and reduce wait times from 3 days to 1 hour • Why your customers' photos, receipts, and documentation can't be trusted (and what to do about it) • The two major fraud threats hitting small businesses: AI-generated content and "cheap fakes" • Real-world examples: Insurance claims, warranty inspections, loan applications, and merchant cash advances • How one pizza shop owner can now get funding in hours instead of days

Perfect for: Small business owners doing manual inspections, anyone processing customer-submitted photos or documents, and entrepreneurs looking to expand beyond their geographic area without the traditional costs.

The Bottom Line: While we're living in the "Wild West" of digital content, smart business owners are using authentication technology to cut costs by 90%, serve customers faster, and expand into new markets—all while protecting themselves from fraud.

Are your cybersecurity gaps quietly devaluing your business? In this episode, entrepreneur and advisor Jim DuBos shares the top reasons buyers walk away—and how small business owners can protect their company’s value before it’s too late. Learn the 3 essential controls every buyer looks for, how to build a culture of security, and why cybersecurity is a business growth strategy, not just an IT concern.

Download Jim DuBos’ Cybersecurity Program for Small Business