Enhancing Workforce Cyber Resilience: Bridging the Gap in ICS Protection

Protecting critical infrastructure is a key challenge in cyber resilience, particularly when it comes to safeguarding Industrial Control Systems (ICS). The workforce responsible for this protection comprises two distinct groups: ICS Engineers and IT/Cybersecurity Specialists. ICS Engineers design, implement, and maintain operational technology and networks but often lack expertise in cyber threat intelligence. Conversely, IT/Cybersecurity Specialists focus on securing systems against vulnerabilities and attacks but usually lack knowledge of operational technology concepts. This gap in expertise can leave critical infrastructure vulnerable to cyber threats. To address this issue, modern teaching approaches are being developed to enhance the workforce’s cyber resilience. These approaches aim to provide comprehensive training that bridges the knowledge gap between ICS Engineers and IT/Cybersecurity Specialists. By integrating cyber threat intelligence into the training of ICS engineers and operational technology concepts into the training of IT/Cybersecurity Specialists, these educational strategies seek to create a more cohesive and capable workforce. This article reviews these contemporary teaching methods and evaluates their effectiveness in preparing the workforce to handle cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure.