Industrial Control Systems Security Training Courses and Certification

The SANS ICS Security Mission

Unlike traditional IT environments, ICS/OT systems face unique risks that demand both cybersecurity expertise and operational awareness. SANS ICS/OT cybersecurity training courses prepare defenders for the evolving threats targeting essential industries worldwide. From foundational to advanced—SANS ICS training courses and certifications, led by expert instructors with real-world labs using cyber physical systems, provides the knowledge and hands-on skills to defend the critical infrastructure and industrial operations that drive economies.

ICS vs OT vs SCADA

ICS, OT, and SCADA are often mentioned together because they have many of the same security challenges, but for different parts of industrial environments. OT is the broadest and includes the devices, networks, and systems responsible for monitoring and controlling physical processes. OT cybersecurity focuses on protecting the availability, reliability, and safety of industrial operations, where a cyberattack can result in production outages, equipment damage, environmental incidents, or even risks to human safety.

ICS are a subset of OT and represent the specific control systems that manage industrial processes. ICS cybersecurity focuses on securing components such as PLCs, HMIs, distributed control systems (DCS), and industrial communications networks. Because a lot of ICS environments were originally designed for reliability rather than security, defenders need to balance cybersecurity controls with operational requirements, minimizing disruptions to critical processes while protecting against increasingly sophisticated threats.

SCADA systems are a specialized type of ICS that allow operators to monitor and control assets across multiple facilities or remote locations. From a cybersecurity perspective, SCADA environments often introduce additional challenges because they rely on extensive communications networks and connect geographically dispersed devices. As a result, SCADA security typically emphasizes secure remote access, network segmentation, continuous monitoring, and the protection of critical data flows between centralized control centers and field equipment. While OT cybersecurity protects the entire operational environment, ICS cybersecurity focuses on the control systems themselves, and SCADA cybersecurity addresses the unique risks associated with large-scale monitoring and remote industrial operations. With SANS cybersecurity courses, you’ll have the necessary skills to defend and protect all three environments.