The IT training and certification provider says connected manufacturing facilities demand new security skills.
IT training and certification provider CompTIA said it has begun to develop a new certification focused on cybersecurity skills in operational technology (OT).
Cybersecurity skills continue to be in demand for IT professionals, according to CompTIA, which reported some 470,000 U.S.-based job openings with cybersecurity-related skills between May 2023 and April 2024, “demonstrating the broad demand for cybersecurity skills across many different job roles.” Cybersecurity skills are also critical for OT professionals, as a recent Fortinet report found that 93% of OT organizations experienced an intrusion in 2024. And 73% of those in the Fortinet report said they experienced intrusions that impacted OT systems in some way, up from 49% in 2023.
“Governments, industry leaders, and cybersecurity techs are struggling to address the human and economic impact of critical infrastructure attacks,” said James Stanger, chief technology evangelist at CompTIA, in a statement. “It’s time to streamline these efforts by creating a scalable, cutting-edge, and cost-effective program. That’s the best way to counter the emergence of AI-powered cyberattacks on our global infrastructure.”
The SecOT+ certification will provide OT professionals with the skills to manage, mitigate, and remediate security risks in manufacturing and critical infrastructure environments, according to CompTIA. The certification program will provide OT positions, such as floor technicians and industrial engineers, as well as cybersecurity engineers and network architects on the IT side, with a common skills set.
“With technology continuing to expand across physical environments, it presents both opportunities and challenges,” said Katie Hoenicke, senior vice president, product development at CompTIA, in a statement. “As the industry-recognized leader in building and validating security skills, CompTIA is eager to bring this rigor and dedication to the OT space.”
While developing the certification program, CompTIA will focus the SecOT+ certification on:
- Risk assessment-driven approaches to cybersecurity
- Compliance and regulatory frameworks for OT
- Hardening techniques and secure configurations
- Managing third-party risks and supply chain security
- Integrating and securing legacy systems
CompTIA expects SecOT+ to be available in the second half of 2026.
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