Operational Technology (OT) network engineers have traditionally concentrated on creating architectures that ensure the safety, security and efficiency of production systems in manufacturing and industrial sectors. As the adoption of user and data-intensive applications, such as smart instrumentation, cloud-based workloads, and artificial intelligence, continues to rise, network designs must evolve to meet these demands while maintaining stringent security and reliability standards. In this unfiltered episode, Cisco Champions share their expertise on contemporary OT design principles, strategies, and considerations to address these emerging requirements. Cisco Champion Hosts Jonathan Mahady (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmahady/) Senior PCN Network Engineer, BHP Liam Keegan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamjkeegan/) Advisor Kenny Paula, Information Security Professional, College Instructor, East Penn Mfg and Reading Area Community College Moderator Danielle Carter, Cisco, CCR Program/ Customer Voices