This course introduces the application of ISA/IEC 62443 principles to protect industrial automation and control systems (IACS). Participants develop foundational knowledge of industrial cybersecurity, security responsibilities, risk management, network segmentation, and safeguards suited to operational technology (OT) environments.
The course supports preparation for the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist certificate, the entry point to ISA’s cybersecurity certificate pathway. This is a proposed general preparation course; earning the official credential requires completion of ISA’s qualifying training and passing its examination.
Duration 2 Days – 14 hrs.
Objectives
- Explain industrial cybersecurity priorities and their relationship to safety, availability, and operational reliability.
- Describe the organization and purpose of the ISA/IEC 62443 standards series.
- Identify cybersecurity responsibilities across asset owners, service providers, and product suppliers.
- Explain the industrial cybersecurity lifecycle and foundational security requirements.
- Distinguish target, achieved, and capability security levels.
- Apply basic risk concepts to industrial assets, threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences.
- Explain how zones, conduits, and defense in depth support secure control system architectures.
- Identify appropriate technical and organizational safeguards for industrial environments.
- Describe essential practices for maintaining cybersecurity throughout system operation.
- Use ISA/IEC 62443 terminology and concepts to support further certificate preparation.
Target Audience
- Control systems, automation, and instrumentation engineers.
- OT and industrial cybersecurity professionals.
- IT and network personnel supporting industrial facilities.
- System integrators and industrial solution providers.
- Plant operations and maintenance personnel.
- Engineering, plant, and project managers.
- Safety, compliance, and risk management professionals.
- Professionals preparing for the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist certificate.
Prerequisites
- Basic familiarity with industrial control systems, such as PLCs, DCS, SCADA, and HMI systems.
- Basic understanding of networking, including Ethernet, TCP/IP, and firewalls.
- General awareness of cybersecurity concepts, including access control, vulnerabilities, and malware.
- Industrial operations, automation, IT, or cybersecurity experience is beneficial.
- No prior ISA/IEC 62443 credential is required for this general preparation course.
Course Outline
Day 1: Industrial Cybersecurity Foundations and Risk Concepts
Module 1: Industrial Control Systems and Cybersecurity Priorities
- Common industrial control system components and architectures.
- Differences between IT and OT operating environments.
- Relationships among cybersecurity, process safety, and production continuity.
- Industrial threats, vulnerabilities, and potential operational consequences.
Module 2: Understanding the ISA/IEC 62443 Framework
- Organization of the standards into general, organizational, system, and component topics.
- Essential terminology and relationships among the standards.
- Responsibilities of asset owners, service providers, and product suppliers.
- Cybersecurity activities across the industrial system lifecycle.
Module 3: Core Security Concepts and Requirements
- Defense in depth and least privilege.
- Zones, conduits, and trust boundaries.
- Target, achieved, and capability security levels.
- The seven foundational requirements and their purpose.
- Relationship between security requirements and risk reduction.
Module 4: Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Fundamentals
- Asset identification and definition of the system under consideration.
- Threats, vulnerabilities, likelihood, and consequences.
- Initial risk identification and prioritization.
- Security policies, assigned responsibilities, and personnel awareness.
- Selecting safeguards within operational and safety constraints.
Day 2: Control System Protection and Certificate Preparation
Module 5: Industrial Network Security and Segmentation
- Industrial communication patterns and protocol security limitations.
- Separating enterprise and industrial networks.
- Applying zone-and-conduit concepts to network architecture.
- Firewalls, industrial demilitarized zones, and controlled communication paths.
- Secure remote access and third-party connectivity.
Module 6: System and Component Security Controls
- Identification, authentication, and authorization.
- Secure configuration and system hardening.
- Endpoint protection and application allowlisting.
- System integrity and protection of sensitive information.
- Supplier security expectations and secure product development concepts.
- Managing legacy equipment and compensating safeguards.
Module 7: Maintaining Industrial Cybersecurity
- Vulnerability handling and controlled patch deployment.
- Change management and configuration documentation.
- Monitoring, logging, and recognition of suspicious activity.
- Incident response coordination in industrial environments.
- Backup, restoration, and recovery planning.
- Maintaining protection as systems and operational conditions change.
Module 8: Capstone — Foundational Control System Security Plan
- Review a representative facility containing control equipment, operator stations, engineering workstations, and remote access.
- Identify critical assets and significant cybersecurity concerns.
- Define proposed zones, conduits, and permitted communication paths.
- Recommend safeguards and assign implementation responsibilities.
- Produce a concise security improvement plan with operational considerations.
Module 9: Certificate Preparation and Consolidation
- Consolidate essential terminology and foundational concepts.
- Connect governance, risk, architecture, and operational security topics.
- Resolve common misunderstandings concerning security levels and stakeholder responsibilities.
- Review the official certificate pathway and qualifying requirements.
- Develop a focused study plan for the Fundamentals Specialist credential.
