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Graduate Certificate Programs: Industrial Control Systems Security

Graduate Certificate
12 credits
$22,800 USD total program cost
Applications accepted monthly
Requires professional experience + current infosec/related role
ICS Security Program
4 GIAC Certifications

Earn professional GIAC certifications as you complete the program.

Online or In-Person

Designed for working professionals with 100% online option available.

High Earning Potential

Median salary of $156,000 USD based on reported earnings from program graduates.

NSA Approved

SANS.edu is an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

DoD 8140 Approved

This program supports DoD cybersecurity workforce readiness.

Advance Your Career in Industrial Control Systems Security

Protect critical infrastructure and operational technology. Gain specialized, hands-on skills for securing ICS and OT environments—and apply them immediately in high-impact, real-world settings.

ICS Security Skills You’ll Develop

  • ICS and OT architecture analysis
  • Threat detection in industrial environments
  • Securing PLCs, SCADA, and control networks
  • Risk assessment for critical infrastructure systems
Industrial Control Systems

Admissions Timeline

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Apply by the 15th of any month.

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Receive a decision 30 days later.

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Start courses as soon as one month after admission.

The SANS.edu Advantage

Discover why 99% of our graduates would recommend SANS.edu to their peers.

SANS Courses + GIAC Certifications

Our programs are packed with hands-on labs and include GIAC certifications that employers trust.

World-Class Faculty

Learn the latest skills and techniques from the world's top cybersecurity practitioners.

Flexible for Working Professionals

Start when you want to and learn on a schedule that fits your life—with 100% online options.

Powerful Network

Make connections with some of the most talented students and teachers in the industry.

Dedicated Student Advising

Get personalized guidance from experienced success coaches who support you from enrollment to graduation.

SANS.edu Academic Pricing

Receive SANS.edu academic pricing on SANS courses and GIAC certifications.

Enrolling at SANS.edu helped propel my professional journey, growing from an asset-based ICS Security Specialist to a global ICS Security subject matter expert.

Mike HoffmanPrincipal ICS Security Engineer, Shell

Curriculum | 12 Credits

Our hands-on courses empower you to understand your networked industrial control system environment, monitor it for threats, perform incident response against identified threats, and use knowledge gained from interactions with the adversary to enhance network security and maintain the safety and reliability of operations. This is the curriculum order for this program.

Required Core Courses | 6 Credits

Specialization Elective Courses | 3 Credits

Students select one of the following courses.

Elective Courses | 3 Credits

Get Certified with GIAC

Earn certifications cybersecurity professionals ranked as the most valued when selecting job candidates for interviews (Source: cio.org).

Explore the Data Behind Our Graduates’ Success

The Alumni Outcomes Report highlights how SANS Technology Institute graduates are launching and advancing cybersecurity careers with high satisfaction, strong ROI, and real-world impact.

Graduate at Grad Ceremony

Learn From The Best

SANS Technology Institute faculty members are rock stars of the cybersecurity field, with a broad base of expertise in government and industry. Their up-to-date examples and deep knowledge ensure what you learn in class is immediately applicable on the job.

100%Every member of the SANS.edu faculty is a highly skilled professional currently working in cybersecurity.
150+More than 150 open source cybersecurity tools have been created by SANS Faculty.
40+SANS faculty members have authored more than 40 books on information security.
3.5K+SANS faculty members have produced more than 3,500 research papers and webcasts on information security topics.

Featured Faculty

Lesley Carhart

Lesley Carhart

Instructor

Lesley is Technical Director of Industrial Incident Response for North America for Dragos and teaches SANS Industrial Control System courses. She's a recognized leader in cybersecurity and has won a number of prestigious awards in the field.

Learn more about Lesley Carhart
Tim Conway

Tim Conway

Professor

SANS Fellow Tim Conway, co-author of ICS456, ICS310, and ICS612, blends decades of hands-on ICS/OT security and compliance expertise with ongoing frontline consulting, helping students turn complex industrial challenges into practical skills.

Learn more about Tim Conway
Robert M. Lee

Robert M. Lee

Professor

SANS Fellow and Dragos CEO Robert M. Lee, author of ICS515 and FOR578 and co-author of ICS310, teaches from landmark industrial cyber investigations, turning real adversary tradecraft into visibility, detection, and response skills in OT.

Learn more about Robert M. Lee
Dean Parsons

Dean Parsons

Assistant Professor

Dean Parsons, CEO of ICS Defense Force, teaches ICS515 and co-authors ICS418, emphasizing ICS-specific detection, incident response, and security programs that support OT operations—aligning practitioners and leaders on clear, defensible action.

Learn more about Dean Parsons

Join Us For a Free Online Info Session

SANS.edu offers a career-focused cybersecurity education with a lot more flexibility and personalized support than you'll find in a "traditional" college. Join a free online info session to learn how our world-class programs can help you meet your cybersecurity career goals.

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Flexible Learning Options

Your mind has no borders. Why should your college? Our online and in-person course options are designed to fit your life and how you like to learn.

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OnDemand

Our most flexible online option gives you 24/7 access to courses recorded by top cybersecurity practitioners. You can rewind and repeat content, including hands-on labs, quizzes, and exercises.

SANS Live Online Training

Live Online

Study from home—and save on travel and lodging expenses—through live, interactive scheduled online courses with SANS instructors and hands-on labs in a virtual environment.

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In-Person

Immersive weeklong courses are held across the country and around the world throughout the year. Meet fellow students and instructors and attend exclusive in-person events.

Tuition

Total Program Cost: $22,800 USD

Tuition includes the cost of the course, textbooks, and certification tests that serve as mid-term or final exams for courses.

Application Fee: $35 USD

Get the Credit You Deserve

Students who have taken SANS training classes and have active GIAC certifications may be able to waive one course and GIAC certification into the program.

Graduate Program Pathways

Save on a master's: Eligible courses and GIAC certifications from this program can be applied to the our master's degree program saving you time and money.

Stack your credentials: After completing this program, you can enroll in another graduate certificate program within one year without submitting a full application.

Funding Options

A degree or certificate from SANS.edu is a great investment in your career. Explore funding options that can make your cybersecurity education more accessible.

Pay Per Course

Pay Per Course

Students pay tuition per course which allows you the financial flexibility to pay smaller amounts as you go.

Employer Assistant

Employer Assistance

Because we are regionally accredited, our tuition is eligible for most employer-sponsored education benefit programs.

VA Education Benefits

VA Education Benefits

All SANS.edu programs are eligible for US and Canadian Veterans Education Benefits.

Tuition Payment Program

Tuition Payment Program (TPP)

Eligible students can spread out the cost of their degree or certificate program in monthly installments with no interest.

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Education Benefits for Federal Employees

All SANS.edu programs are eligible for the education benefits available to US Federal Government employees.

529 College Savings

529 College Savings Plans

529 College Savings Plan funds may be used to pay tuition for any SANS.edu cybersecurity degree or certificate program.

SANS Voucher

SANS Voucher

If you’d like to use a SANS Universal Voucher Account, confirm with your voucher administrator that course tuition is an eligible expense.

Canadian Funding Options

Canadian Funding Options

All SANS.edu programs are eligible for the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and Canadian veterans’ education benefits.

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External Cybersecurity Scholarships

Explore independent cybersecurity scholarships administered outside of SANS.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Need More Information?

We’re happy to help. Join us for a free info session or request more information today.

Graduate Certificate Programs: Industrial Control Systems Security | SANS Technology Institute