Bridging Barriers to Entry into OT Security in the South West: Bootcamps and Tools

Hacktonics, a company specialising in hands-on cyber security training for industrial control systems, will deliver bootcamps, technical resources and longer term self-learning support in cyber security of Operational Technology (OT). OT is used extensively in critical infrastructures (e.g., water, power, manufacturing) driven by industrial control systems (ICS). The cyber skills shortage is acute when it comes to OT, with a particular challenge for newcomers into the field. Those aiming to enter cyber in IT security have ready access to tools, e.g., Kali Linux, as well as online resources. Similar resources are lacking for OT and, where they exist, they are not suitable for entry level professionals.

In this project, we will host 4 bootcamps across the South West, an area where OT security is of utmost importance due to the local economy of specialised manufacturing and defence. We will hold bootcamps in Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Cheltenham drawing on Hacktonics' experience of delivering tailored training in OT security, utilising our unique specialist training equipment and drawing on our instructors' many years of experience in cyber security teaching in educational and industrial contexts. At these bootcamps, participants will be introduced to key concepts of ICS, and will learn, with practical examples, methods of testing such systems for security vulnerabilities. These bootcamps will be accompanied by the public, and free, release of a new Linux distribution for security testing in OT environments, which will be released with appropriate training materials allowing for users to further develop their skillsets in OT security. This distribution will include a number of OT specific tools, as well as resources allowing for further practice of techniques in a controlled environment. This distribution and associated resources will be hosted on a specially designed website, and will be continually updated and maintained.