After several focused study sessions, hours of video content, and note taking, I recently completed the ICS300: Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Virtual Training. This course is a mandatory prerequisite before moving on to the in-person ICS301 class, and it was a challenging yet eye opening experience into the world of IT/OT security.

In this post, I’ll share what the course covers, who it’s designed for, and why I think it’s such a valuable step for anyone working in critical infrastructure cybersecurity.

My Study Experience

ICS300 is self paced and delivered online through pre recorded videos. The course is broken into five core sessions, each building on the last:

• Session 1 – Introduction to ICS and a live attack demonstration.
• Session 2 – Network discovery and mapping.
• Session 3 – Defense, detection, and analysis.
• Session 4 – The exploitation process.
• Session 5 – Network attacks and exploits.

In total, the course takes about 10 hours to complete, depending on how much time you spend reviewing. For me, I found myself replaying certain sections to really grasp the vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies. These sessions are compiled of lectures, practical hands on labs, a quiz, and frequently asked questions of the sessions topics.

While it doesn’t dive deep into specific tools or ICS protocols, it gave me a strong foundation in understanding the environment and why defending ICS is different from securing traditional IT systems.

What ICS300 Covers

At its core, ICS300 is all about understanding the weaknesses in industrial control systems and how to defend them. Some of the biggest takeaways for me included:

• How common vulnerabilities in ICS differ from IT only environments.
• Why “defense-in-depth” matters when protecting OT networks.
• The balance between protecting availability and security (since uptime in ICS is critical).
• How attackers exploit weak points in network mapping and discovery.

The course finishes with a comprehensive exam you need to score at least 80% to pass and qualify for ICS301.

Why ICS300 Matters

Here’s why I think ICS300 is an important course for anyone in cybersecurity:

• Industry Relevance – Critical infrastructure is a high value target. Learning ICS defense strategies is directly applicable to protecting utilities, energy, water, and manufacturing sectors.
• Skill Validation – Passing the course shows you have baseline knowledge of ICS cybersecurity principles.
• Career Growth – Many IT professionals know traditional enterprise networks, but ICS is a different playing field. Having this on your resume opens opportunities in OT and industrial security.
• Pathway to ICS301 – If you want hands-on ICS cybersecurity training, ICS300 is the gatekeeper.

Who Should Take ICS300

The course is geared toward anyone evaluating or securing critical infrastructure, including:

• Cybersecurity and risk management staff.
• IT and OT security professionals.
• Managers overseeing ICS environments.

What’s Next for Me

Now that I’ve completed ICS300, I plan to:

• Continue my pathway with taking the CompTIA Security+(SY0-701) exam by covering lectures, labs, and practice exams to study and learn the material. Then I plan to take the ISC2 SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner) certification by listening and taking notes on lectures and hands on labs in preperation of the exam.
• This course spiked interest in Industrial control systems so I plan to apply for the ICS301 in-person course to get hands-on, team based training.
• Build on my knowledge of both IT and OT security as I move deeper into critical infrastructure defense. I will get this done with my future certifications and utilizing Hack the Box by continuing to do their modules and labs.

The course also provided continuing education credits and a certificate, which adds a nice professional credential. Best of all? The training is tuition free.

This course was awesome and definitely intrigued me. I’m currently a ski lift mechanic at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, and I’ve noticed how the concepts from this course relate to my work especially in how ski lifts communicate and interact with technology. It’s exciting to go to work and see the connection between the lifts and modern tech systems.

As I continue learning, I’m realizing just how many different pathways exist within cybersecurity. I’m still exploring which direction I want to take for my long term career in the field, but this course has been a great starting point.