SCADA/ICS Security Specialist

Part of the Cybersecurity Career Guide — This article is one deep-dive in our complete guide series.

By HADESS Team | February 28, 2026 | Updated: February 28, 2026 | 5 min read

You secure the systems that control physical infrastructure — power grids, water treatment plants, manufacturing lines, oil and gas facilities, and transportation networks. These are operational technology (OT) environments where a security failure does not just mean data loss. It can mean physical damage, environmental harm, or danger to human life.

What You Will Do

ICS/SCADA security is a niche that combines IT security knowledge with an understanding of industrial processes and protocols. The stakes are different from enterprise IT — availability is the top priority, and you cannot just patch and reboot a system running a chemical process.

Your work includes:

• Assessing the security posture of industrial control systems — PLCs, HMIs, RTUs, DCS
• Performing network segmentation between IT and OT environments (Purdue model)
• Monitoring industrial network traffic for anomalies using specialized OT security tools
• Conducting vulnerability assessments on SCADA systems without disrupting operations
• Analyzing ICS-specific protocols — Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, EtherNet/IP, Profinet
• Implementing secure remote access solutions for OT environments
• Developing incident response plans specific to OT environments
• Working with plant operators and control engineers to implement security controls
• Assessing risk against ICS-specific frameworks — IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82
• Testing and hardening historian servers, engineering workstations, and jump hosts
• Evaluating vendor patches and managing the unique patch cycle of industrial systems
• Participating in tabletop exercises simulating attacks on critical infrastructure

You need to understand that OT environments operate under different constraints than IT. Systems may run for decades, patches cannot be applied during production, and safety instrumented systems (SIS) require specialized handling.

Skills You Need

ICS security demands a unique blend of IT security and industrial automation knowledge.

Core skills:

• Industrial control system architecture — PLCs, SCADA, DCS, SIS components and communication
• ICS protocols — Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, EtherNet/IP analysis and security
• Network segmentation for OT — Purdue model, DMZ design, IT/OT convergence
• OT threat landscape — understanding APTs targeting critical infrastructure (Sandworm, Triton)
• ICS-specific compliance frameworks — IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82, NERC CIP
• OT network monitoring — Claroty, Nozomi Networks, Dragos platform
• Risk assessment for industrial environments — safety vs. security trade-offs
• Traditional IT security — networking, Windows, Linux fundamentals still apply

Build these in the skills library and explore related career paths in the career path explorer.

Certifications

ICS security certifications are specialized:

• GICSP — GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional
• GRID — GIAC Response and Industrial Defense
• ICS-410 — SANS ICS/SCADA Security Essentials
• Vendor-specific certifications from Claroty, Dragos, or Nozomi Networks

Plan your certification path with the certification roadmap planner.

Salary Range

SCADA/ICS security specialists earn between $75K and $140K. The niche nature of the role and the critical infrastructure focus often push compensation higher. Specialists in the energy sector, government, or defense contracting tend to earn the most. Clearance requirements for some positions can further increase compensation.

Check your market position with the salary calculator.

How to Get Started

1. Build a foundation in IT security and networking — OT security adds to, not replaces, IT knowledge 2. Learn about industrial control systems — understand PLCs, HMIs, and how industrial processes work 3. Take the skills assessment to measure your baseline knowledge 4. Practice with ICS simulation environments in the labs — GRFICSv2 is a good starting point 5. Study ICS-specific attack cases — Stuxnet, Triton/TRISIS, Ukraine power grid attacks 6. Learn ICS protocols — set up a Modbus simulator and analyze the traffic 7. Work toward GICSP — plan it with the certification planner 8. Attend ICS security conferences — S4, SANS ICS Summit 9. Build your resume highlighting both IT security and any industrial exposure 10. Search for ICS/OT security roles on the job board

ICS security is a specialty that requires both IT security experience and industrial knowledge. If you are unsure how to combine these backgrounds, talk to the career coach.

Related Guides in This Series

• Application Penetration Tester: Go Beyond the Web Layer — HADESS | 2026
• Bug Bounty Hunter: Get Paid to Find Real Vulnerabilities — HADESS | 2026
• Exploit Developer: Turn Vulnerabilities into Working Code — HADESS | 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions

What certifications do I need for this role?

Certification requirements vary by employer and seniority level. Use the certification roadmap planner to build a sequence based on your target role and current qualifications.

What is the salary range for this role?

Salaries vary significantly by location, experience, and employer type. Use the salary calculator for your specific market rate.

How do I transition into this career path?

Take the skills assessment to identify your current strengths and gaps relative to this role. The assessment generates a personalized learning plan to close the gap.

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HADESS Team consists of cybersecurity practitioners, hiring managers, and career strategists who have collectively spent 50+ years in the field.