Process Control Cybersecurity

Overview:

Introduction:

Securing industrial control systems (ICS) from cyber threats is critical to maintaining operational continuity, safety, and regulatory compliance. As operational technology (OT) becomes more interconnected with IT networks, industrial environments face increasing risks from cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure. Effective process control cybersecurity requires a structured approach to threat identification, security implementation, and compliance with global standards. This training program equips participants with essential cybersecurity knowledge, covering threat landscapes, security frameworks, and governance strategies to strengthen process control environments.

Program Objectives:

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

• Identify cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities specific to process control systems.

• Analyze the cybersecurity lifecycle and its phases within industrial environments.

• Perform security countermeasures to protect process control networks and assets.

• Utilize diagnostics and troubleshooting tools to monitor and respond to cybersecurity incidents.

• Establish security governance practices, including management of change and compliance measures.

Targeted Audience:

• Industrial control system (ICS) engineers and technicians.

• Cybersecurity professionals in process industries.

• IT and OT security specialists.

• Process control and automation engineers.

• Compliance officers and risk management professionals.

Program Outline:

Unit 1:

Fundamentals of Process Control Cybersecurity:

• Introduction to cybersecurity risks in industrial control systems.

• Differences between IT and OT security in process environments.

• Key vulnerabilities in industrial networks and common attack methods.

• Risk assessment techniques for process control cybersecurity.

• Overview of cybersecurity frameworks including IEC 62443 and NIST.

Unit 2:

Security Controls and Incident Response:

• Key activities for implementing network security, including firewalls, intrusion detection, and prevention systems.

• Endpoint protection techiques, including authentication mechanisms, malware defense, and encryption.

• Techniques of securing industrial communication networks and remote access.

• Network segmentation and zero-trust security approaches in ICS.

• Incident response planning techniques, including detecting, mitigating, and recovering from cyberattacks.

• Strategies for enhancing cyber resilience in process control environments.

Unit 3:

Cybersecurity Governance and Compliance:

• Importance of developing cybersecurity governance frameworks for industrial environments.

• Key activities for managing security patches, updates, and access control policies.

• The process of conducting vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.

• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) measures for threat detection.

• Ensuring compliance with global cybersecurity regulations and industry standards.

• Frameworks for preparing for future cybersecurity challenges in process control systems.