ISA Delivers On-site Industrial Cybersecurity Training and Technical Support at US Army National Guard Exercise
ISA was selected by the National Guard because of its leadership and experience in developing the world's only consensus-based series of industrial cybersecurity standards, ISA/IEC 62443.
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The International Society of Automation (ISA) in April provided operational technology (OT) training in support of the US Army National Guard's national cyber-operations exercise, Cyber Shield.
Cyber Shield 19—held 5-18 April 2019 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana—brought together approximately 800 Army and Air National Guard network defenders and world-class cybersecurity professionals, industry network owners, an Army Reserve assessment team, and federal and state agencies to train the next generation of cyber warriors in the ever-changing, dynamic world of information systems and networks.
"The training that Soldiers and Airmen obtained through Cyber Shield 19 and the National Guard adds to their ability to conduct their civilian jobs and, vice versa, the training and experience they receive in their civilian positions strengthen the military's cyber capabilities. They become very valuable assets in protecting critical infrastructure," said George Battistelli, the Army National Guard Cybersecurity Program Manager, Information Technology Strategy Division Chief and the Cyber Shield 19 Exercise Director.
Cyber Shield includes a critical training component that offers industry-leading courses and seminars that are organized into tracks based on the roles of the participating cyber team members.
"We focus on getting people prepared for cyber defense," said Col. Teri Williams, Commander, Cyber Shield 19. "There are a lot of people we bring to the table for that first week of training. Microsoft, CISCO and SANS are on hand for some of the cyber defensive training. The International Society of Automation (ISA) provides ICS/SCADA network training. We also focus on the offensive side. Our belief is that the better that you are trained on the offensive side the stronger a defender you will be."
ISA was selected by the National Guard because of its leadership and experience in developing the world's only consensus-based series of industrial cybersecurity standards, ISA/IEC 62443. These standards, which also serve as the basis for ISA cybersecurity training, protect the industrial automation and control systems (IACS) and networks that operate OT machinery and associated devices within critical infrastructure. Without these defenses in place, industrial cyberattack can result in plant shutdown, operational and equipment impairment, severe economic and environmental damage, and public endangerment.
Given their protective capabilities, the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards are key components of the US Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity (dated April 2018), a how-to guide developed through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help strengthen America's cyber defenses.
During the first week of Cyber Shield 2019, ISA's subject-matter experts taught three ISA courses: ISA Cybersecurity courses included: Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards (IC32C); IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34), and IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance (IC37) courses. Click here to view photos of ISA personnel providing IACS security training during the training component of the exercise.
To access additional images, visit the Cyber Shield 2019 photo page on the Defense Visual Distribution Service website.
More about ISA99/IEC 62443
Developed by leading international cybersecurity experts from industry, government and academia, ISA/IEC 62443 is a flexible framework for preventing and limiting cyber damage to IACS and networks.
Because most IACS are not designed to ensure resilience against cyber warfare, an IACS cyberattack can impair and disable safe operations of industrial facilities. The consequences—which can include plant shutdowns, widespread power blackouts, explosions, chemical leaks, and more—can place national and economic security as well as lives, personal safety and the environment at risk.
ISA/IEC 62443 enables owners and operators of critical infrastructure to achieve and maintain IACS security improvements through a lifecycle that integrates design, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement.
For more information
To learn more about IEC 62443, ISA's IACS Security Lifecycle Training Program, and ISA's wide range of industrial cybersecurity resources, click here or contact Heidi Cooke, Sr. Workforce Development Consultant, at +1 -919-990-9405 or via email at [email protected].
About ISA
The International Society of Automation is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA advances technical competence by connecting the automation community to achieve operational excellence. The organization develops widely used global standards; certifies industry professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its 40,000 members and 400,000 customers around the world.
ISA owns Automation.com, a leading online publisher of automation-related content, and is the founding sponsor of The Automation Federation, an association of non-profit organizations serving as "The Voice of Automation." Through a wholly owned subsidiary, ISA bridges the gap between standards and their implementation with the ISA Security Compliance Institute and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute.
SOURCE ISA
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