The GIAC GICSP combines IT, engineering, and cyber security to secure industrial control systems. The GICSP exam is an industry-leading, vendor-neutral, practitioner-focused industrial control system certification.
In this collaborative effort, GIAC partners with representatives of a global industry consortium involved in designing, deploying, operating, and maintaining industrial automation and control systems.
As part of the GIAC GICSP, professionals who engineer or support control systems will be assessed on a basic level of knowledge and understanding.
In this blog, you will get an overview of the GIAC GICSP certification exam.
What is the GIAC GICSP certification?
The Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) certification is one of the most recognized vendor-neutral credentials. The GICSP connects IT, engineering, and cyber security to ensure the security of industrial control systems from the design phase through their retirement.
As a result of GIAC's collaboration with representatives of an international industry consortium consisting of organizations that design, deploy, operate, and maintain industrial automation and control system infrastructure, this unique, vendor-neutral, practitioner-focused certification has been developed.
The GIAC GICSP certification exam assesses the knowledge and understanding of a broad range of professionals who design, support, and ensure the security of control systems. The GICSP exam consists of 82-115 multiple-choice questions. The GICSP exam duration is three hours. A passing score of 71% or higher is required. The GICSP certification is designed for security engineers, security managers, and professionals.
The GIAC GICSP certification exam covers the following topics:
- Industrial control system components, purposes, deployments, significant drivers, and constraints
- Control system attack surfaces, methods, and tools
- Control system approaches to system and network defense architectures and techniques
- Incident-response skills in a control system environment
- Governance Models and Resources for industrial cybersecurity professionals
What is the GICSP exam format?
The GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) certification exam is a challenging and highly respected exam that evaluates an individual's knowledge and skills in industrial control system (ICS) security. The GICSP exam is a computer-based test comprising 82-115 multiple-choice questions. The GIAC GICSP certification exam duration is three hours. The passing score for the GICSP exam is 71 percent.
Who can take the GIAC GICSP certification exam?
The GIAC GICSP certification is among the most prestigious and globally recognized credentials. If you earn the GIAC GICSP certification, this means you can demonstrate your knowledge and skills in the ICS security field. Those seeking a career in ICS security may greatly benefit from earning the GIAC GICSP certification.
- ICS IT practitioners (includes operational technology support)
- ICS Security analysts (includes operational technology security)
- Security engineers
- Industry managers and professionals
What are the GIAC GICSP exam objectives?
Hardening & Protecting Endpoints: Candidates will be able to explain how to implement endpoint security software, along with hardening and patching, to secure Windows and Unix-style operating systems.
ICS Components & Architecture: Candidates will be able to categorize assets that comprise Purdue Reference Architecture levels zero through three and describe how to implement them in a secure architecture. Candidates will also be able to explain how levels and zones are used to define a secure ICS architecture and the devices deployed at each level and zone.
ICS Overview & Concepts: Candidates will be able to summarize the high-level ICS processes, roles, and responsibilities. Also, candidates will be able to compare and contrast high-level differences between ICS and IT, including physical security issues.
ICS Program & Policy Development: Candidates will be able to summarize the steps and best practices for building a security program and creating enforceable security policies.
Intelligence Gathering & Threat Modeling: Candidates will be able to identify ICS threat landscapes and learn high-level threat modeling concepts.
PERA Level 0 & 1 Technology Overview and Compromise: Candidates will be able to describe level 0 and level 1 devices and technologies and summarize how they are targeted and compromised.
PERA Level 2 & 3 Technology Overview and Compromise: Candidates will be capable of describing level 2 and level 3 devices and technologies as well as describing how they are targeted and compromised.
Protocols, Communications, & Compromises: Candidates will be able to describe the basic structures, protocols, and defenses of communications within an ICS and how they can be compromised. This includes TCP/IP as well as ICS-specific protocols. Applicants will also be able to describe the cryptography used to protect communications at a basic level.
Risk-Based Disaster Recovery & Incident Response: Candidates will demonstrate a detailed understanding of risk measurement and how to apply it to disaster recovery.
Wireless Technologies & Compromises: Candidates will be able to explain how wireless communication technologies are targeted and how they can be defended in an ICS.
The final words
The GIAC GICSP exam is one of the prestigious certifications in the IT industry, validating professionals’ knowledge and skills in industrial control system security.
If you want to take the GICSP certification exam, we at CBT Proxy can help you pass the exam on your first attempt. We are a reliable proxy exam center offering various IT certifications. To learn more about the GICSP exam, click the chat button below, and one of our guides will contact you.
