James Smith joins CovertSwarm as Hive Leader, strengthening our Operational Technology (OT) offensive security expertise
CovertSwarm proudly welcomes James Smith as a Hive Leader in the UK, expanding our offensive capabilities into Operational Technology (OT). His appointment strengthens our ability to help clients protect the systems that drive critical services and industrial operations.
James brings extensive experience in securing complex operational environments where IT and OT intersect. His background in protecting high-availability and safety-critical systems positions CovertSwarm to deliver adversarial testing that reflects how real attackers target both digital and physical infrastructure.
Bridging the gap between IT and OT
For years, OT security was managed by engineering teams, often outside the scope of cybersecurity governance. That separation is no longer sustainable. Modern CISOs are now accountable for securing entire operational ecosystems, including production lines, control systems, and industrial networks.
James’s expertise in OT threat modelling, control system security, and adversarial simulation enables CovertSwarm to help organizations identify vulnerabilities across the full attack surface. His appointment demonstrates our commitment to helping security leaders gain visibility and assurance across IT and OT environments.
“James’s expertise in Operational Technology brings a new dimension to the Swarm,” said Louis Blackburn, Swarm Director at CovertSwarm. “As CISOs take ownership of OT environments, the need for constant, authentic adversary testing across both IT and OT has never been greater. James’s leadership ensures we remain at the forefront of that evolution.”
Expanding the power of constant cyber attack
James joins CovertSwarm at a time when industrial and operational systems are under increasing threat from both state-sponsored and criminal actors. By integrating OT attack simulation into our constant cyber attack model, we help organizations uncover weaknesses that traditional penetration testing cannot reach, from programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to the networks that connect them.
“I’m thrilled to join a team that is redefining offensive security,” said James Smith. “Operational Technology is now part of every organization’s cyber risk landscape. CovertSwarm’s constant attack model provides the realism needed to understand and reduce that risk.”
Building resilience through constant attack
James’s leadership strengthens CovertSwarm’s mission to help organizations outpace genuine adversaries through continuous, adaptive, and collaborative testing. With OT now a core focus area, CovertSwarm continues to challenge conventional testing models and deliver proactive, intelligence-driven security assurance across every operational layer.