OT Cyber Tuesday (Ep. 2) - OT/ICS Cybersecurity Certs for You

OT Cyber Tuesday (Ep. 2) - OT/ICS Cybersecurity Certs for You

by Mike Holcomb

Applied Sciences & Engineering Computing & Cybersecurity UComputing and Information TechnologyUQComputer certification
🎙 Mike Holcomb 👥 27K 📅 October 8, 2025 ⏱ 77 min 👁 1K 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

OT/ICScybersecuritycertificationsISA/IEC 62443SANS

Summary

In this episode of OT Cyber Tuesday, Mike Holcomb discusses the landscape of OT/ICS cybersecurity certifications. He begins by highlighting the upcoming CompTIA SecOT+ certification, which is expected to be released in beta around July next year, and emphasizes its affordability and suitability for IT professionals transitioning to OT. He then compares the two main certification paths: the ISA/IEC 62443 series and the SANS courses. The ISA/IEC 62443 path consists of four certifications: Cybersecurity Fundamentals Specialist, Risk Assessment Specialist, Design Specialist, and Operations & Maintenance Specialist, which together lead to the ISA/IEC 62443 Cybersecurity Expert title. Mike critiques this title, noting that completing the courses does not make one an expert. He also discusses the SANS certifications, particularly the GICSP, and notes their high cost (around $11,000) but acknowledges their value. He addresses questions about CISA training, noting that it offers free courses but only certificates of completion, not certifications. He emphasizes that certifications are valuable for demonstrating foundational knowledge and passion, especially for those entering the field, and that some clients require them. He also touches on the lack of OT SOC monitoring and the importance of continuous improvement in cybersecurity programs.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable insights into the OT/ICS certification landscape, offering practical advice on choosing between different certifications based on cost, career goals, and client requirements. Mike’s argumentation is based on his extensive experience in the field, and he presents a balanced view, acknowledging both the strengths and weaknesses of each certification path. He effectively explains the structure of the ISA/IEC 62443 series and the SANS courses, and addresses common questions from the audience. However, the discussion is largely anecdotal and lacks formal citations or data to support some claims, such as the exact costs and exam details.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video demonstrates a good level of scientific rigor in terms of the speaker’s expertise and practical knowledge. However, it lacks formal citations to external sources, relying instead on personal experience and industry knowledge. The title accurately reflects the content, which is focused on certifications for OT/ICS cybersecurity. The speaker does not provide specific references to official documentation or studies, but he does mention the ISA and SANS organizations and their websites. The adequacy between title and content is high, as the video directly addresses the topic of certifications.

202 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on OT/ICS cybersecurity certifications.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The video is an expert opinion by a practitioner with extensive experience in OT/ICS cybersecurity. It provides practical insights and comparisons of certifications, but lacks formal citations and relies on personal experience and anecdotal evidence.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • ISA/IEC 62443 Certification — Mentioned as the official website for ISA/IEC 62443 certifications.
  • SANS ICS Cybersecurity Certifications — Referenced as the provider of SANS ICS certifications.

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The video provides a practical overview of OT/ICS cybersecurity certifications, offering a comparison of costs, prerequisites, and career implications. It highlights the upcoming CompTIA SecOT+ as a more affordable option and critiques the ISA/IEC 62443 expert title. The speaker’s experience in the field adds credibility, but the content is not novel or groundbreaking.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • ISA/IEC 62443 — Overview of the standard.
  • GICSP — Details on the SANS GICSP certification.
  • CompTIA Security+ — CompTIA’s IT security certification, relevant as a precursor to SecOT+.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows moderate to high scores across all dimensions, indicating a balanced and informative video. The highest scores are in information quantity and reliability, reflecting the speaker's expertise and the depth of content. The technical level is moderate, making it accessible to a broad audience.

Reliability 7/10

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