In this episode of Data Driven, host Frank La Vigne sits down with Andy Pruett, co-founder and CEO of Lumiscent, to explore a topic often overlooked in the industrial sector: it’s not a data problem—it’s a decision problem.

Andy explains how industrial companies are drowning in sensor data, but struggle to transform that information into actionable decisions that minimize physical asset risk. The conversation dives into how AI-powered decision intelligence can illuminate hidden vulnerabilities, contextualize risk in real-time, and empower industries like mining, manufacturing, and energy to make smarter, faster calls on the shop floor.

From the challenges of aging infrastructure to the growing retirement wave of experienced engineers, this episode reveals how the right blend of technology and expertise is shaping a new era of operational resilience and risk management.

• Andy on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/andypruett/
• Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzpVpgoO5KA
• Lumicent -https://www.lumicent.com/
• Blog Post -https://www.franksworld.com/2026/09/28/navigating-the-data-tsunami-from-iot-sensors-to-smarter-decisions-in-industrial-operations/

00:00 Focusing on asset risk management

03:56 Managing food plant risks

07:48 Managing information in heavy industries

11:45 Workforce challenges and knowledge loss

16:00 Transforming data into decisions

18:46 Predictive maintenance challenges in plants

22:14 Adoption urgency and house analogy

27:32 Collaborating with Risk Engineers

29:16 Understanding insurance risk strategies

32:31 Insurance industry changes and parametrics

36:46 Managing risk in operations

40:03 Challenges with predictive analytics in cars

43:02 Getting into engineering from Alaska

45:37 Handling a power outage crisis

49:01 Wrapping up and contact info

In this episode of Data Driven, Frank La Vigne talks with Richard Luna, CEO of Protected Harbor, about why security built around keeping attackers outside a network leaves organizations exposed once someone gets in. Richard explains his concern that AI-driven attacks will probe multiple weaknesses at once, and makes the case for layered defenses, network segmentation, and infrastructure designed around the applications it supports.

The conversation moves from security architecture to the people and processes that make systems dependable. Richard shares how his team plans for failures, works across technical silos, and tests vendor claims before putting equipment into production. Frank and Richard also explore the promise of AI-assisted coding, the experience junior developers need to build, and the expensive gap between a successful demo and software that holds up under real demand.

From a storage cluster that failed on its second day of testing to a deployment that collapsed under load, the episode offers practical lessons in building durable systems and teams that take responsibility for them.

• Design beyond the perimeter. Richard argues for barriers and tripwires inside the environment, with attention to how data moves between systems.

• Build around application needs. Storage performance, traffic separation, redundancy, and failure recovery should reflect the actual workload.

• Break down technical silos. Developers and infrastructure teams need each other’s knowledge to diagnose problems and implement security effectively.

• Keep human judgment in AI-assisted development. Generated code and automated tests still need experienced review and realistic load testing.

• Make accountability specific. Divide responsibilities clearly, give engineers a path to ask for help, and involve clients when they own a blocker.

• Test before trusting. Vendor assurances and a working demo do not establish how a system will behave in production.

Richard Luna is the CEO of Protected Harbor. His career has spanned software development, managed services, hosting, DevOps, and SaaS infrastructure engineering. In this conversation, he brings that experience to the design, operation, and security of systems that businesses depend on.

• Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardluna/
• Protected Harbor: https://www.protectedharbor.com/
• Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/y6ZHVmJtf9o

00:00 Why the 1980s security model falls short

01:21 Introducing Richard Luna

02:32 What SaaS infrastructure engineering means

03:53 AI threats, perimeter defenses, and information silos

05:44 Building barriers and tripwires

07:17 Application-aware infrastructure

10:27 Phased change and lessons from Toyota

11:22 Rebuilding infrastructure around the workload

13:37 Collaboration, zero trust, and asking for help

15:35 Data flow, security, and finding the root cause

18:19 Listening to clients and earning long-term trust

20:08 AI-assisted coding and the next generation of developers

21:17 Why generated tests are not enough

25:17 DevOps experience and “works on my machine”

26:58 Learning from the loss of a customer

29:02 Dividing responsibilities without losing accountability

31:56 Oversight meetings that remove obstacles

33:34 Empowering clients and engineers

35:42 Respect, culture, and learning across teams

38:06 Building a business by solving clients’ problems

42:01 Planning for failure instead of fighting fires

43:01 Stress-testing enterprise storage

47:01 A deployment failure and the cost of skipping tests

48:32 Cloud scaling and runaway costs

49:48 Closing thoughts and connecting with Richard

Subscribe to Data Driven for more conversations about data science, AI, data engineering, and the people building the systems behind them.

In this episode, Frank La Vigne sits down with Sandeep Pauddar, Head of Digital Trust at DQS, to explore the fast-evolving world of digital trust, compliance, and data security. From the growing complexities of global regulations, to the increasing intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise risk, Sandeep Pauddar shares real-world stories—including personal experiences with AI-driven phishing—and breaks down how organizations can foster a security-aware culture. Whether you're leading a startup or a global enterprise, tune in for actionable insights on building digital trust, navigating the compliance landscape, and why organizational leadership plays a crucial role in keeping data secure.

• Sandeep on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-pauddar/
• DQS Global -https://www.dqsglobal.com/
• Extreme Ownership -https://amzn.to/4zZRiH8
• Get a Free Audible Book -https://www.audible.com/ep/creator?afsrc=1&source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
• Watch on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF4D5hYM7Yw

00:00 Introduction and guest welcome

05:00 AI data security in various industries

06:44 Department collaboration on AI and compliance

10:58 Information security standards overview

14:23 Balancing Innovation and Standardization

18:14 Navigating global AI regulations

22:14 Regulatory advice for startup founders

25:33 Discussing common patterns in failures

28:24 Discussing link metadata in apps

33:09 Security threats and personal story

37:11 Challenges in adopting security systems

38:32 Insurance and breach response policies

43:21 Promoting Extreme Ownership on Audible

45:01 Finding more about Claude Academy