Training on Cybersecurity for Industrial Process Control Systems

Industrial Process Control Systems (PCS), including SCADA and Distributed Control Systems (DCS), form the operational backbone of critical infrastructure sectors such as energy, water treatment, manufacturing, and transportation. As these systems become increasingly interconnected with enterprise IT networks and internet-facing technologies, they are exposed to growing cybersecurity risks that can impact safety, operational continuity, and national security.

This course provides a specialized, practical understanding of securing industrial control environments against cyber threats. Participants will learn how to identify vulnerabilities in operational technology (OT) systems, assess cyber risks, and implement security controls that protect industrial processes without disrupting operational performance.

The program covers core cybersecurity principles applied to industrial environments, including network segmentation, access control, intrusion detection, and incident response tailored to SCADA and DCS architectures. Participants will also explore risk management strategies aligned with critical infrastructure protection standards such as those from the NIST cybersecurity framework for industrial control systems.

Key topics include industrial network architecture, threat vectors targeting OT environments, malware risks in control systems, secure remote access, and resilience planning. The course also addresses safety implications of cyber incidents and the convergence of IT and OT security.

Through real-world case studies drawn from energy, utilities, and manufacturing sectors, participants will gain practical insights into defending industrial systems, responding to incidents, and strengthening overall cyber resilience in mission-critical environments.

Duration

 5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Industrial cybersecurity and IT security professionals
• SCADA and DCS engineers and system administrators
• Operational technology (OT) engineers and managers
• Energy, water, and manufacturing sector professionals
• Critical infrastructure risk and compliance officers
• Government and regulatory cybersecurity officials
• Consultants and technical specialists in industrial systems

Organization Impact

• Strengthened resilience of industrial operations against cyberattacks

• Improved compliance with global ICS/SCADA cybersecurity standards

• Reduced downtime and financial losses from disruptions

• Enhanced IT/OT collaboration within the enterprise

Individual Impact

• Ability to identify and mitigate ICS-specific cyber risks

• Hands-on knowledge of frameworks like IEC 62443 and NIST CSF for ICS environments

• Enhanced career growth in the growing industrial cybersecurity field

• Confidence in handling both technical and governance aspects of PCS security

Participants will be able to:

• Understand the unique cybersecurity challenges in ICS/PCS environments

• Apply global standards and frameworks (IEC 62443, NIST CSF, ISO 27001) to industrial systems

• Conduct risk assessments tailored for OT/ICS infrastructures

• Design layered defense strategies to protect control systems

• Implement monitoring and incident response in industrial networks

• Balance safety, reliability, and cybersecurity requirements in PCS

Module 1: Introduction to Industrial Cybersecurity

• Explore the differences between IT and OT security requirements

• Understand vulnerabilities in PCS, SCADA, and DCS systems

• Examine real-world industrial cyber incidents and their consequences

• Case study: Stuxnet worm—how a cyberattack manipulated industrial processes in Iran’s nuclear program

Module 2: Standards, Frameworks, and Regulations

• Overview of IEC 62443, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, and ISO 27001 for industrial systems

• Align cybersecurity with safety and regulatory requirements in critical infrastructure

• Understand regional regulations impacting energy, utilities, and manufacturing

• Case study: How oil & gas companies applied IEC 62443 to protect refinery operations

Module 3: Risk Assessment and Threat Modeling for ICS

• Identify threats specific to industrial protocols and devices (Modbus, DNP3, OPC, etc.)

• Apply tailored risk assessment tools for OT/ICS environments

• Integrate hazard analysis with cyber threat modeling for resilience

• Case study: Colonial Pipeline attack—how ransomware disrupted a major fuel supply chain

Module 4: Defense-in-Depth Strategies for PCS

• Network segmentation and the Purdue Model for ICS security

• Secure remote access and patch management in legacy environments

• Deployment of intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) in ICS networks

• Case study: Ukraine power grid cyberattacks—illustrating the role of layered defenses in preventing cascading failures

Module 5: Monitoring, Incident Response, and Resilience

• Build industrial Security Operations Centers (SOC) for real-time monitoring

• Develop incident response and disaster recovery plans for PCS environments

• Balance uptime requirements with security interventions

• Case study: Triton/Trisis malware targeting safety systems in petrochemical plants—lessons for incident detection and recovery