RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Wednesday, 11 May 2016, The North Carolina Army National Guard presented an award of appreciation on behalf of National Guard Bureau to the International Society of Automation (ISA) for its contributions in supporting Cyber Shield 2016, a nationwide training and assessment exercise designed to develop, train, and exercise cyber elements, threat analysis teams, incident handling, reporting mechanisms, and leaders.
More than 1,000 soldiers from the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Army Reserve as well as airmen, Marines, sailors, and civilians representing 47 states and territories participated in Cyber Shield 2016, held 17-30 April 2016 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. A core focus of the exercise was training cyber teams on network defense, forensic analysis, reporting and mitigation, and incident response through interagency partnerships and collaboration.
ISA was selected by the National Guard to provide hands-on industrial cybersecurity training based on its ISA/IEC 62443 series of industrial automation and control system security standards. The world's only consensus-based series of industrial cybersecurity standards, ISA/IEC 62443 is designed to prevent critical damage to the industrial plant systems and networks used in power generation, water treatment, refineries and other vital industrial facilities.
"I want to thank ISA not only for its contributions in helping to make Cyber Shield 2016 a success, but for its passion and commitment to help protect our critical infrastructure," said LTC Matt Chytka, Chief Information Officer, NC Army National Guard, speaking to an assembly of ISA staff at the award presentation held at ISA's North Carolina headquarters. "ISA is acutely aware of the threats cyberattack pose to America's security and welfare."
During his remarks, MAJ Robert N. Felicio, Cyber Shield J3, Exercise Control Operations Officer, NC Army National Guard, emphasized that key reason ISA stands out is because of its ability to "take a standards-based approach to training professionals in industrial cybersecurity."
Also addressing ISA staff at the ceremony were Vincent J. D'agostino, Jr., Chief Warrant Officer 3, Cybersecurity Operations Manager, NC Army National Guard, and SGM Larry Wiedel, Joint Forces Headquarters, NC Army National Guard.
"ISA is proud to have been selected as an industry partner for this critical National Guard exercise," said ISA Executive Director and CEO Patrick Gouhin. "As a global resource for industrial control systems cybersecurity, we are honored to stand behind the men and women who serve in uniform, and we look forward to providing high-quality, unbiased educational content to ensure that their teams can successfully mitigate cyber incidents and protect networks from cyber vulnerabilities."
ISA offers the most comprehensive set of industrial cybersecurity certificate programming and aligned training courses in the marketplace—covering the complete lifecycle of industrial automation and control system (IACS) assessment, design, implementation, operations and maintenance.
All of ISA's industrial cybersecurity certificate programs and training courses are based on ISA/IEC 62443, which also serve as a key component of the US government's cybersecurity initiative.
During Cyber Shield 2016, ISA provided four ISA/IEC 62443 standards-based courses with lab exercises. ISA also offered dozens of participants the opportunity to pass exams and earn three different cybersecurity certificates.
Below are the four operations technology focused courses (including hands-on, applications-based lab exercises) that ISA delivered at Cyber Shield 2016.
• Cybersecurity for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems (IC32E)
• Using the ANSI/ISA-62443 Standards to Secure Your Control System (IC32)
• IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34)
• IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance (IC37)
Cyber Shield 2016 training course participants had the opportunity to take an exam to prove their knowledge and earn up to three different ISA certificates:
• ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist
• ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Design Specialist
• ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Maintenance Specialist
These certificates are part of a comprehensive ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Certificate Program, offered to students taking the ISA suite of cybersecurity courses. For more information about all of ISA's cybersecurity offerings, including standards, books, training courses, individual certificate programs, conformity assessment programs, and more, visit www.isa.org/cybersecurity/resources.
To learn more about bringing ISA's automation and control training courses to your facility, or to find out how to take a course online, contact ISA at +1 (919) 549-8411.
About ISA
The International Society of Automation (www.isa.org) is a nonprofit professional association that sets the standard for those who apply engineering and technology to improve the management, safety, and cybersecurity of modern automation and control systems used across industry and critical infrastructure. Founded in 1945, ISA 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 (www.automationfederation.org), 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 (www.isasecure.org) and the ISA Wireless Compliance Institute (www.isa100wci.org).