DirectConnect

About DirectConnect

Archer’s DirectConnect podcast brings together industry expertise to cover current events, hot topics and the latest tech from across the critical infrastructure sector. DirectConnect can be watched on YouTube as well, you can find all the episodes at www.youtube.com/archernewsnetwork Would just like to learn more about Archer Energy Solutions and what we do? Head over to our website @ www.archerint.com, give us a call @ 1-800-805-7411 or email us @ contact@archerint.com, we’d love to hear from you!

Publisher

DirectConnect

Category

government · technology

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

12 Jan 2023

Latest episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

83 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Sept 2026

   New Executive Order: What Utilities Need to Know About Securing the U.S. Power Grid

   A newly issued Executive Order declaring a national emergency to secure the United States Bulk Power System could have significant implications for utilities, equipment vendors, and organizations operating across the energy sector. In this episode of DirectConnect, Archer Managing Partners Brian Pauling and Brent Castagnetto, along with Account Manager John Fallon, discuss the potential challenges and unanswered questions surrounding the order. The conversation explores: • How the expanded definition of Bulk Power System equipment could affect utilities • The potential impact on inverter-based resources and renewable generation • Why identifying and inventorying potentially affected equipment may be a critical first step • The challenges surrounding vendor qualification and potential pre-approved equipment lists • Supply chain concerns involving transformers and other critical infrastructure • Gaps between existing regulations and emerging security risks • What utilities can do now to begin assessing their potential exposure While many details will need to be clarified as the industry responds, one message is clear: the risk is real, and organizations should begin understanding how these changes could impact their operations. Watch now for Archer's initial perspective on what this Executive Order could mean for the security and resilience of the U.S. power grid. About Archer Energy Solutions Archer helps critical infrastructure organizations manage security risk across cyber, physical, and operational environments. We work with utilities, energy providers, and other essential sectors to strengthen resilience, improve visibility, and stay aligned with evolving regulatory and compliance requirements — including NERC CIP and other industry standards. Our focus is practical, real-world security risk management: • Cybersecurity for IT & OT environments • Physical security strategy and integration • Compliance and audit readiness • Risk assessment and program development • Bridging the gap between operations, security, and leadership Because protecting infrastructure isn’t just about technology — it’s about people, processes, and preparedness. Archer — Managing Tomorrow’s Risks, Today! 📩 Connect with our team to continue the conversation: 🌐 Website: www.archerint.com (http://www.archerint.com) 📧 Email: contact@archerint.com (mailto:contact@archerint.com) 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/archer-energy-solutions-llc (https://www.linkedin.com/company/archer-energy-solutions-llc) 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArcherInternational (https://www.facebook.com/ArcherInternational) #CyberSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #OTSecurity #PowerGrid #EnergySector #GridSecurity #NERC #FERC #CIP #Compliance #Resilience #Audit #InfrastructureProtection #CyberAttack #ArcherEnergySolutions

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   NERC’s New Large Load Rules: What Data Centers Need to Know Now

   The electric grid is changing—and large loads, especially data centers and other computational loads, are becoming a major reliability concern. In this episode of DirectConnect, Steve Parker, Brian Pauling, and John Fallon break down the rapidly developing regulatory landscape surrounding large loads and what it could mean for utilities, data centers, and other organizations connecting to the bulk electric system. Following recent FERC action directing NERC to develop new or modified reliability standards, organizations that may not have considered themselves part of the NERC compliance world could soon find themselves facing new requirements. The conversation explores: What qualifies as a “large load” and why the definition matters Why computational loads and data centers are receiving increased attention What FERC has directed NERC to do How new requirements could affect existing and planned data centers Why organizations should begin with a gap analysis and assessment The potential impact on modeling, studies, instrumentation, protection, and controls Why physical security and cybersecurity could become increasingly important How utilities may need to rethink interconnection requirements What the future could hold for NERC reliability standards and large computational loads Why organizations should start preparing now rather than waiting for the final requirements As Brian points out, many organizations are now having to reconsider where they fit into the evolving NERC framework—and how their loads could affect bulk electric system reliability. The message is simple: If you haven't started looking at this, now is the time. Whether you're a utility, transmission owner, balancing authority, data-center operator, or another organization dealing with large or computational loads, understanding where these requirements are heading can help you prepare before they become an immediate compliance challenge. Direct Connect with Archer brings industry experts together to discuss the issues shaping cybersecurity, physical security, compliance, and reliability across critical infrastructure. #NERC #FERC #DataCenters #LargeLoads #GridReliability #NERCCompliance #Cybersecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #EnergySecurity #ArcherEnergySolutions

3. 

   8 Jul 2026

   Buying More Tools Does Not Necessarily Make You More Secure

   Every year, organizations invest thousands—or even millions—of dollars in new cybersecurity tools with the expectation that they'll automatically improve security and compliance. Unfortunately, that's rarely how it works. In this episode of DirectConnect, the Archer managing partners, Leonard Chamberlin, Stacy Bresler, Brent Castagnetto, and Steve Parker, discuss one of the most common mistakes they see across the utility and critical infrastructure industries: believing that buying more security products will solve security and compliance challenges. They explore: Why cybersecurity tools are not a silver bullet The hidden costs of tool sprawl and overlapping solutions How poor planning leads to shelf-ware, alert fatigue, and misconfigured systems Why people, processes, and governance matter more than technology alone What organizations should evaluate before purchasing a new security solution How to become an "active buyer" instead of simply accepting vendor recommendations Best practices for reducing risk while maximizing your existing technology investments Whether you're responsible for NERC CIP compliance, OT security, IT security, or enterprise risk management, this conversation offers practical advice for making smarter security investments that actually improve your organization's security posture.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

108,347

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 54 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

50

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.