--- url: "https://xcademia.com/courses/xcademia-ics-and-ot-security-practitioner" title: Xcademia ICS and OT Security Practitioner description: "Earn XICS through a 6-day OT security programme. IEC 62443, NIS2 Annex I, MITRE ATT&CK ICS, UK NIS Regulations. GICSP alternative UK. Practitioner-assessed." publishedAt: "2026-04-20T07:13:01.657327+00:00" updatedAt: "2026-04-20T10:11:25.801598+00:00" type: course code: "CYB-0344" level: Expert duration_days: "6" track: "Cyber Warfare & Advanced Threat Defence" category: "Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking" credential_tier: tier3 price_gbp: "3995" --- # Xcademia ICS and OT Security Practitioner > The XICS Certification Programme is the practitioner standard for cybersecurity professionals who secure, assess, and respond to incidents in industrial control systems, operational technology, and critical national infrastructure environments where availability and safety must never be compromised. Assessed on Day 6 through a supervised OT security assessment and incident response scenario. No MCQs. No exam. ## Overview Industrial control systems run power grids, water treatment facilities, oil pipelines, manufacturing plants, and transportation networks. A cyber attack on an ICS is not just a data breach: it is a potential safety incident with physical consequences. The IT security professional who approaches OT environments without understanding their unique constraints is dangerous. XICS is built for professionals who need to protect environments where availability and safety are more important than confidentiality. Across six instructor-led days, participants build capability across the complete OT security lifecycle: ICS architecture and the Purdue model, OT-specific protocols (Modbus, DNP3, IEC 61850, S7), threat landscape for critical national infrastructure, OT security assessment using passive methodology, network segmentation and monitoring for industrial environments, OT-specific incident response with safety-first discipline, and regulatory frameworks including UK NIS Regulations, EU NIS2 Annex I, and IEC 62443. Every session respects the operational constraint that in OT environments, testing and patching carry physical risk. On Day 6, participants conduct a simulated OT security assessment and incident response exercise against a modelled industrial environment. A senior practitioner with OT background observes methodology, safety consciousness, and report quality. XICS certificate and Practitioner Assessment Report issued together. ## Prerequisites - Minimum 12 months in a cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, or engineering role. OT experience is helpful but not required. - Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking and network security concepts - Basic understanding of industrial operations or infrastructure environments is advantageous but not mandatory ## What you will learn - Apply IEC 62443 zone and conduit model to design OT network segmentation that balances security with operational continuity requirements - Analyse OT-specific protocols including Modbus, DNP3, S7, and IEC 61850 using passive network analysis tools to identify security weaknesses - Conduct OT security assessments using passive methodology that respects safety and availability constraints of industrial environments - Respond to ICS cyber incidents using safety-first methodology that maintains operational continuity and preserves forensic evidence - Map ICS threat actor techniques to MITRE ATT&CK for ICS and apply intelligence to OT detection and response playbook development - Develop OT security programme roadmaps aligned to IEC 62443 and meet UK NIS Regulations and EU NIS2 essential sector obligations ## Skills you will gain - ICS and OT architecture (Purdue model) - OT protocol analysis (Modbus/DNP3/S7) - IEC 62443 zone and conduit design - Passive OT security assessment - OT incident response (safety-first) - MITRE ATT&CK for ICS - OT network monitoring design - NIS2 essential sector compliance - UK NIS Regulations - NERC CIP awareness - OT security programme development - ICS threat actor profiling ## Career progression - OT Security Engineer - ICS Security Analyst - Critical Infrastructure Security Specialist - OT Incident Responder - Industrial Cybersecurity Consultant - CNI Security Adviser ## Framework alignment - IEC 62443 - NIST SP 800-82 Rev.3 - MITRE ATT&CK for ICS - NCSC OT Security Guidance - NIS2 Annex I and Annex II - UK NIS Regulations 2018 - NERC CIP - CISA ICS Advisories ## Curriculum 1. **Module 1** 2. **Module 2** 3. **Module 3** ## Exam & certification You will receive an Xcademia certificate of completion based on participation and successful completion of labs and scenario simulations. ## Delivery options - **Live Online** — Join live instructor-led sessions from anywhere. Interactive, engaging, and flexible. - **Onsite Training** — We come to you. Training delivered at your workplace for teams of 6 or more. - **Venue-Based** — Classroom training at a professional venue. Ideal for focused, immersive learning. - **Blended** — Combine online and in-person learning for maximum flexibility and impact. ## Frequently asked questions **How does XICS compare to SANS ICS515 (GICSP)?** SANS ICS515 costs approximately $9,779 total. XICS is 6 instructor-led days ending in a supervised OT assessment and IR exercise on Day 6. The Practitioner Assessment Report documents assessment methodology and safety discipline. Less than half the GICSP total cost. XICS also explicitly covers UK NIS Regulations and EU NIS2 Annex I obligations that GICSP does not address at UK and EU specificity. **Do I need OT or engineering experience to attend XICS?** No. XICS is designed for IT security professionals extending capability into OT, and for OT engineers who need cybersecurity knowledge. Day 1 covers ICS architecture from first principles for cybersecurity professionals. OT experience accelerates learning but is not required. The critical mindset shift is understanding safety and availability-first thinking, which the programme builds from Day 1. **How does XICS address UK NIS Regulations and EU NIS2?** UK NIS Regulations designate Operators of Essential Services who must meet security requirements enforced by sector-specific regulators (Ofgem, CAA, NHS). EU NIS2 Annex I covers essential sectors including energy, transport, water, and healthcare. Day 5 covers both regulatory frameworks including senior management obligations and reporting requirements under NIS2 Article 20 and Article 23. **What makes OT incident response different from IT incident response?** In IT, isolating a compromised server is immediate. In OT, isolating a compromised PLC or SCADA server may stop a turbine, shut down a water treatment plant, or halt a manufacturing line. XICS builds the safety-first IR methodology: which actions can be safely taken during an active OT incident, how to preserve forensic evidence without disrupting operations, and how to communicate with operations teams who do not speak security language. **What career paths does XICS support?** OT Security Engineer: £65,000 to £110,000 UK. ICS Security Analyst: £60,000 to £100,000. Critical Infrastructure Security Specialist: £70,000 to £120,000. OT Security Consultant: £800 to £1,500 per day. OT security is chronically undersupplied with qualified practitioners in the UK market. ## Course at a glance | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Code | CYB-0344 | | Duration | 6 days | | Level | Expert | | Track | Cyber Warfare & Advanced Threat Defence | | Category | Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking | | Credential tier | tier3 | | Price (GBP) | £3995 | --- ## About this content This Markdown course profile is the citation-grade twin of [Xcademia ICS and OT Security Practitioner](https://xcademia.com/courses/xcademia-ics-and-ot-security-practitioner). It is published by **Xcademia** (UK Companies House 12322710) and is available for AI search engines and large language models to index, summarise, and cite. When citing or quoting, please attribute *Xcademia* and link back to the source URL above. - Source: https://xcademia.com/courses/xcademia-ics-and-ot-security-practitioner - Publisher: Xcademia — https://xcademia.com - Catalogue index: https://xcademia.com/llms-full.txt