17 Nov Cybersecurity Certifications and ICS Environments
There is growing concern in the ICS cybersecurity arena about cyber threats from hackers and ransomware attacks. These risks make ICS cybersecurity and infrastructure protection, as well as preparedness, a top priority for any pipeline company. Cybersecurity has increasingly become the most important element of any industrial security system. So, let’s talk about the 6 cybersecurity certifications and how they relate to ICS Environments.
While this may be a new area to navigate for many industrial organizations, an independent consulting team specializing in ICS cybersecurity can achieve the required degree of cyber protection. In fact, an independent industrial control system engineering and consulting firm can manage and optimize your company’s cybersecurity. When choosing a firm, it’s crucial to ensure they have relevant certifications. These professional certifications provide assurance that your ICS cybersecurity team is well-equipped to prepare you for any threat or attack to your system.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Top cybersecurity consulting firms and the U.S. Department of Defense require this certification. The certification exam basically requires those who pass to be experts in designing, implementing, and managing an elite cybersecurity program. Those who have earned their CISSP certification are experienced in an array of security practices and principles.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) for Cybersecurity
This certification may be one of the most well-known in the cybersecurity world. It focuses primarily on penetration testing. Examiners test candidates for the CEH certificate using highly realistic scenarios. These scenarios prepare them for proactively testing internal network security, or simulating and overcoming an outside security attack. As a result, candidates gain hands-on experience when completing a CEH certification, which makes it one of the most versatile and valuable certifications a consultant can possess.
GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) for Cybersecurity
GPEN certification prepares cybersecurity experts for a wide variety of complex attacks. It is an advanced certification. Before educators award this certification, candidates have extensive study before a rigorous examination. Even before certification, a candidate must prove they are able to handle:
- Advanced password attaches and hashes
- Azure applications and attack strategies
- Domain escalation
- Persistence attacks
- Exploitation
- Data infiltration and exfiltration
- Kerberos attacks
- Penetration test planning
- Reconnaissance
- Vulnerability scanning, and
- Host discovery
GIAC Global Industrial Control Security Professional (GICSP)
The GICSP certification process allows candidate-immersion to secure complex ICS environments. The result is becoming an expert in systemic technical and practical security risks and threats. The certification course covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics. Earning a GIAC certification demonstrates one has the fundamental knowledge and skills to assess and secure ICS in any environment.
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
For this certification, candidates must know how to compromise multiple operating systems and devices. This allows them to learn and prove the elements that keep systems secure from targeted attacks. Accordingly, earning an OSCP certification proves one has the practical knowledge of attack methods that are prevalent today. This certification also proves one to be well-versed in identifying the vulnerabilities present in ICS. These would be vulnerabilities due to software and hardware flaws, human error, or configuration mistakes.
To that end, our experienced cybersecurity consultants at UTSI International stay current on the latest Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) used in ICS attacks. Our team members are experts in designing, monitoring and evaluating cybersecurity systems and incident response plans. Additionally, we maintain crucial cybersecurity certifications, including the CEH and GICSP.
Next Steps to Assess Your System’s Vulnerabilities to Threats
Give us a call or email to schedule an initial consultation and find out how we can help secure your ICS systems. We are also happy to chat more in depth about each of the 6 cybersecurity certifications and how they relate to ICS environments.