OT/ICS series

Andrea Dainese
February 18, 2025
Post cover

In today’s interconnected world, securing and understanding Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) is more important than ever. This series of posts explores hands-on lab setups, security best practices, and key learning resources to help you build, test, and protect critical infrastructure. Whether you’re just starting or looking to deepen your expertise, these posts will provide valuable insights into the evolving OT/ICS landscape.

  1. Introduction to OT/ICS
  2. Introduction to Modbus protocol

Building OT/ICS Cybersecurity labs

Learn how to build your own OT/ICS cybersecurity lab for hands-on testing, training, and research. This guide covers essential hardware, software, and network setups to simulate real-world industrial environments, helping you develop and refine your security skills in a safe, controlled setting.

  1. Why build an OT/ICS Cybersecurity lab?
  2. An ICS lab with VirtuaPlant
  3. Installing VirtuaPlant Bottle Filling plant
  4. Attacking the Bottle Filling plant
  5. Installing VirtuaPlant Oil Refinery plant
  6. Attacking the Oil Refinery plant
  7. An ICS lab with GRFICSv2
  8. Installing the GRFICSv2 Chemical plant
  9. Attacking the Chemical plant

Visibility, observability, and segregation in OT/ICS

Visibility and observability are critical for securing and managing industrial OT/ICS environments. Visibility ensures that all assets, communications, and network activities are identified, while observability provides deeper insights into system behaviors, anomalies, and potential threats. Effective segregation of OT/ICS networks using VLANs, firewalls, and air-gapping minimizes the attack surface by isolating critical systems from IT and external networks. This layered approach enhances security, reduces operational risks, and ensures compliance with industry regulations.

  1. Industrial network segmentation with VLAN Insertion
  2. Industrial network segmentation with Private VLANs

Get Started Today

By joining this Patreon series, you’ll gain the knowledge to stay ahead in the evolving OT/ICS landscape!

If you found this information useful, consider supporting us on Patreon for more in-depth guides and tutorials.

References