The Certified Automation Cybersecurity Specialist (CACS) and Certified Automation Cybersecurity Expert (CACE) program were developed in response to the growing demand to secure industrial automation control systems (IACS) and SCADA systems by providing a means for people to develop and demonstrate competence in understanding and applying security standards and best practices.
Control system cybersecurity is an emerging, highly specialized field of engineering. Its goal is to assure a systematic, lifecycle approach is used to assess, design, implement, and monitor methods to protect critical infrastructure from attack. The field of industrial automation and control system cybersecurity combines disciplines of basic control system engineering, risk assessment, safety system engineering, software (e.g. Microsoft) platforms, industrial networking, and IT network security. While several programs exist for training and certification of each of these individual disciplines, there is no program today that focuses on the intersection of these disciplines as it applies to control system cybersecurity. The CACE / CACS focuses on the practical application of security practices and principles, not on knowledge of theory.
“As the use of Ethernet technologies and the complexity of Industrial Control networks increases dramatically, industrial specific knowledge and experience will also become increasingly more important. Participating in the CACE / CACS certification program is a major step towards affirming your competence and knowledge working within these environments.” says Eric Persson, MS, MBA, Sr. Cybersecurity Engineer. “This program focuses on the practical application of security practices and principles, attaining this certification displays your commitment to Industrial network cybersecurity, can ultimately make you a more valuable employee, and open the door for career advancement.”
2. Preparing to pass the exam
3. The curriculum for this program consists of general knowledge plus the knowledge in the applicable field of expertise: