Building a Cyber-Secure Environment with VTScada
TRACK: System Design (Architecture)
Designed for VTScada administrators, system integrators, IT professionals, and cybersecurity practitioners, this one-day workshop focuses on building and maintaining a cyber-secure VTScada environment. Participants will learn how to leverage VTScada’s built-in security features and industry best practices to reduce cyber risk, protect critical infrastructure, and strengthen system resilience against evolving threats.
This hands-on training course provides practical guidance for securing VTScada systems from the ground up. Through real-world examples, demonstrations, and configuration exercises, attendees will gain the knowledge necessary to implement layered security controls that help prevent, detect, and mitigate cyber-attacks.
Topics may include
Security Fundamentals for VTScada Systems
- Understanding cybersecurity threats facing industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA environments
- Defense-in-depth strategies for critical infrastructure
- Security-by-design principles within VTScada
- Risk assessment and security planning
VTScada Security Configuration
- Configuring users, roles, and permissions
- Implementing least-privilege access models
- Managing authentication policies
- Securing administrative access and engineering accounts
Two-Factor Authentication (TOTP)
- Understanding multifactor authentication concepts
- Configuring and deploying TOTP within VTScada environments
- User enrollment and management
- Balancing security and operational usability
TLS Certificate Management
- Understanding TLS and certificate-based security
- Creating, deploying, and managing certificates
- Certificate renewal and lifecycle management
- Troubleshooting certificate-related communication issues
Securing Communications
- Configuring encrypted communications between VTScada servers and workstations
- Protecting device communicationsSecure remote access
View-Only Workstations
- Configuring read only operator access environments
- Use cases for operations centers, public displays, and remote view-only monitoring
Data Diodes and One-Way Communications
- Benefits and limitations of Data Diodes
- Understanding data diode architectures
Network Architecture and Hardening
- Secure network design principles
- Segmentation of operations and business networks
- Firewalls, DMZs, and secure remote access strategies
- Minimizing attack surfaces within SCADA environments
Monitoring, Auditing, and Incident Readiness
- Security logging and audit trails
- Monitoring authentication and system activity
- Recording workstation and network environment metrics
Cybersecurity Best Practices
- Patch and update management
- Backup and disaster recovery considerations
Security governance and compliance supportHands-On Exercises
Participants will work through practical labs such as:
- Configuring secure user authentication and authorization
- Using Windows Security Integration
- Implementing two-factor authentication with TOTP
- Managing TLS certificates and encrypted communications
- Securing communications between VTScada workstations
- Deploying view-only workstation configurations
- Reviewing secure architecture designs involving data diodes and network segmentation
Learning Outcomes
Participants will develop capabilities such as being able to:
- Configure and manage security settings within VTScada.
- Implement role-based access control and strong authentication.
- Deploy two-factor authentication to improve account security.
- Manage TLS certificates and encrypted communications.
- Design secure workstation and network architectures.
- Understand the role of data diodes and one-way communications in critical infrastructure protection.
- Apply cybersecurity best practices to reduce the likelihood and impact of cyber-attacks.
- Develop a layered security strategy for VTScada deployments.
Who Should Attend?
This course is ideal for:
- VTScada Administrators
- SCADA and Control System Engineers
- System Integrators
- IT and OT Security Professionals
- Network Administrators
- Operations and Infrastructure Managers
Prerequisites: Basic familiarity with VTScada administration, networking concepts, and Windows security administration is recommended.
Through a full day of expert instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on configuration exercises, participants will leave with practical skills and actionable strategies for designing, deploying, and maintaining a secure VTScada environment that supports both operational reliability and modern cybersecurity requirements.