Download “A Simple Framework for OT Ransomware Preparation” White Paper
written by SANS Instructor, Lesley Carhart
OT Ransomware: Are You Prepared?
The numbers paint a stark reality: Downtime from an ICS/OT ransomware attack costs an average of $4.73 million per incident—and that’s before factoring in safety risks, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage.
Yet, many organizations remain unprepared:
- 52% of ICS facilities lack a dedicated incident response plan
- 20% of ICS operators are unaware if they even have one
- 45% of ICS network compromises stem from IT networks, where attackers exploit weak IT-OT integrations to infiltrate industrial systems. Despite this, many organizations still rely on IT-centric security controls that fail to address ICS-specific threats—leading to false positives, operational disruptions, and ineffective defenses.
Unlike IT breaches that lock up data, ICS/OT ransomware shuts down operations—disrupting power grids, crippling supply chains—putting lives at risk. Attackers don’t just want access; they leverage operational importance for maximum extortion.
Will your organization be ready to respond?
Your Guide for an OT-Specific Incident Response
IT incident response plans aren’t built for the realities of ICS/OT environments. This white paper provides a practical, engineering-driven framework for developing ransomware response playbooks tailored to critical infrastructure — emphasizing life safety, operational continuity, and realistic ICS tabletop exercises. With a focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration and sector-specific threats, the guide outlines how to detect, contain, eradicate, and recover from ransomware attacks without compromising industrial operations. It also underscores the importance of treating response plans as living documents — continually tested and refined as environments and threats evolve.
Want a quick take on what’s inside?
Read our blog, Building a Better OT Ransomware Response Plan: A Simple Framework for ICS Environments, to explore key highlights and practical perspectives from the framework — then dive into the full white paper to build your own OT-specific response plan.
Learn from Those Leading the Front Lines
Featuring top ICS/OT security experts — Tim Conway, Robert M. Lee, Jason Christopher, and Lesley Carhart — this webcast explores how to protect industrial operations from the growing threat of ransomware. You’ll hear about the real-world business and safety consequences of an attack, how to apply the Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls, and where to focus training to improve your team’s readiness. Whether you're building or refining your OT ransomware playbook, this session will equip you with the insight to lead a confident, real-world response.
Want a quick preview? Read our blog, OT Ransomware on the Rise: What You Need to Know and How to Prepare, for key takeaways from the discussion — then dive into the full webcast to ensure your team is equipped to act when it counts.
Go Beyond the First Control: Build a Complete ICS/OT Security Strategy
After introducing the first critical control — ICS-specific incident response planning — it’s time to zoom out and understand how all five controls work together to form the foundation of a resilient ICS/OT security program.
In this short video, SANS Principal Instructor Dean Parsons walks through each of the Five ICS Cybersecurity Critical Controls. From incident response and defensible architecture to visibility, secure remote access, and risk-based vulnerability management, these are the tools that empower OT defenders to detect threats early, respond faster, and recover more safely without compromising operations.
Need to go deeper? Download the full white paper for a closer look at how each control functions in the field, how they support your role, and how to apply them to strengthen coordination, coverage, and confidence across your team.
OT Ransomware Response Starts with Prepared People
Defending against ICS/OT-specific threats requires more than traditional IT cybersecurity training — it demands a deep understanding of operational systems and real-world scenarios that impact safety and uptime.
In this short video, SANS ICS Curriculum Lead Tim Conway and SANS CEO Dennis Kirby explain what makes SANS Industrial Control Systems Security training unique, and why it's trusted by industrial cyber defenders across all sectors worldwide. You’ll learn why developing OT-specific expertise is essential for building a capable, confident response team — whether you're on the front lines or leading from the top. Learn how hands-on ICS training helps defenders recognize ransomware activity early, coordinate response efforts, and restore operations faster, with fewer missteps.
Explore Training That Builds Real OT Resilience
SANS ICS Security courses and GIAC certifications are built to meet today’s threats — arming engineers, analysts, responders, and security leaders with practical skills to protect what matters most. From foundational concepts to advanced detection and recovery, each course fits into a structured learning path designed to improve response readiness and build lasting resilience across your organization.
What SANS Alumni Say About SANS ICS Security
Meet Oren Niskin, an ICS/OT Cybersecurity Consultant who has taken many SANS ICS Security courses. He shares how he used this training to gain practical skills and advance his career in ICS/OT cybersecurity.