It is episode 31 and we’re finally tackling a topic that somehow hadn’t made the spotlight yet: IoT. And we couldn’t have asked for two better guests to help us dive into it: Olivier Bloch and Ryan Kershaw.
This is not your usual shiny, buzzword-heavy conversation about the Internet of Things. Olivier and Ryan bring decades of hands-on experience from both sides of the IT/OT divide: Olivier from embedded systems, developer tooling, and cloud platforms, Ryan from the shop floor, instrumentation, and operational systems. Together, they’re building bridges where others see walls.
IoT 101
Olivier kicks things off with a useful reset:
"IoT is anything that has compute and isn’t a traditional computer. But more importantly, it’s the layer that lets these devices contribute to a bigger system: by sharing data, receiving commands, and acting in context."
Olivier has seen IoT evolve from standalone embedded devices to edge-connected machines, then cloud-managed fleets, and now towards context-aware, autonomous systems that require real-time decision-making.
Ryan, meanwhile, brings us back to basics:
"When I started, a pH sensor gave you one number. Now, it gives you twelve: pH, temperature, calibration life, glass resistance... The challenge isn’t getting the data. It’s knowing what to do with it."
Infrastructure Convergence: The Myth of the One-Size-Fits-All Platform
We asked the obvious question: after all these years, why hasn’t “one platform to rule them all” emerged for IoT?
Olivier’s take is straightforward:
"All the LEGO bricks are out there. The hard part is assembling them for your specific need. Most platforms try to do too much or don’t understand the OT context."
You can connect anything these days. The real question is: should you? Start small, solve a problem, and build trust from there.
Why Firewalls are no longer enough
Another highlight: their views on security and zero trust in industrial environments.
Olivier and Ryan both agree: the old-school "big fat firewall" between IT and OT isn’t enough.
"You’re not just defending a perimeter anymore. You need to assume compromise and secure each device, user, and transaction individually."
So what is Zero Trust, exactly? It’s a cybersecurity model that assumes no device, user, or system should be automatically trusted, whether it’s inside or outside the network perimeter. Instead of relying on a single barrier like a firewall, Zero Trust requires continuous verification of every request, with fine-grained access control, identity validation, and least-privilege permissions. It’s a mindset shift: never trust, always verify.
They also emphasize that zero trust doesn’t mean "connect everything." Sometimes the best security strategy is to not connect at all, or to use non-intrusive sensors instead of modifying legacy equipment.
Brownfield vs. Greenfield: Two different journeys
When it comes to industrial IoT, where you start has everything to do with what you can do.
Greenfield projects, like new plants or production lines, offer a clean slate. You can design the network architecture from the ground up, choose modern protocols like MQTT, and enforce consistent naming and data modeling across all assets. This kind of environment makes it much easier to build a scalable, reliable IoT system with fewer compromises.
Brownfield environments are more common and significantly more complex. These sites are full of legacy PLCs, outdated SCADA systems, and equipment that was never meant to connect to the internet. The challenge is not just technical. It's also cultural, operational, and deeply embedded in the way people work.
"In brownfield, you can’t rip and replace. You have to layer on carefully, respecting what works while slowly introducing what’s new," said Ryan.
Olivier added that in either case, the mistake is the same: moving too fast without thinking ahead.
"The mistake people make in brownfield is to start too scrappy. It’s tempting to just hack something together. But you’ll regret it later when you need to scale or secure it."
Their advice is simple:
Even if you're solving one problem, design like you will solve five. That means using structured data models, modular components, and interfaces that can evolve.
Final Thoughts
This episode was a first deep dive into real-world IoT—not just the buzzwords, but the architecture, trade-offs, and decision-making behind building modern industrial systems.
From embedded beginnings to UNS ambitions, Thing-Zero is showing that the future of IoT isn’t about more tech. It’s about making better choices, backed by cross-disciplinary teams who understand both shop floor realities and enterprise demands.
To learn more, visit thing-zero.com and check out Olivier’s YouTube channel “The IoT Show” for insightful and developer-focused content.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The IT/OT Insider. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be seen as an endorsement by The IT/OT Insider of any products, services, or strategies discussed. We encourage our readers and listeners to consider the information presented and make their own informed decisions.
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