In our rapidly evolving society, there's a growing demand for technology professionals proficient in cybersecurity to safeguard Critical Infrastructure. However, many Information Technology and cyber learners lack exposure to operation technology (OT), which is vital in fields like manufacturing and utilities. To address this gap, NDG has developed hands-on labs. These labs introduce learners to key OT concepts. The first six labs are suitable for all levels, while labs seven to fourteen are designed for those with networking and cybersecurity backgrounds. The NDG Intro to Critical Infrastructure for IT Learners lab series offers immersive experiences, covering topics such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Human Machine Interfaces (HMI), SCADA systems, Modbus communication protocol, and CI protocols. After mastering some PLC basics, learners can apply their networking and cybersecurity skills to review network protocols and understand how hackers gather information to attack a PLC.
NDG Intro to Critical Infrastructure for IT Learners labs are supported in NETLAB+ using the NDG Intro to Critical Infrastructure for IT Learners Pod.
| Lab | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers |
| 2 | PLC Programming Languages |
| 3 | Building Your First PLC Program |
| 4 | Introduction to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition |
| 5 | Building a SCADA Human Machine Interface |
| 6 | Introduction to Modbus |
| 7 | Exploring ICS Packet Captures |
| 8 | ICS Protocols |
| 9 | Scanning Industrial Control Systems |
| 10 | MiTM/DoS Attack Automation on ICS |
| 11 | Pentesting a Corporate Environment |
| 12 | Setting Up a Command-and-Control Center |
| 13 | Setting Up a Pivot |
| 14 | Deep Pivot with LDAP |
To enable the NDG Intro to Critical Infrastructure for IT Learners labs, install the NDG Intro to Critical Infrastructure for IT Learners course using the Course Manager. See the Course Manager section of the NETLAB+ VE Admin Guide for details. The course content will then be available to be added to classes.
Always select the correct lab exercise for the lab being performed. Students or teams should schedule the correct lab exercise from the catalog. NETLAB+ will only show those labs for which the required pod type is available. A lab that works on different pod types may appear more than once if your system is so equipped. Instructors should select the correct lab from the Exercise tab during instructor-led lab reservations. This can be done as many times as needed during the reservation.
