Cisco announced a new operational technology security certification designed to help network and security professionals develop the skills needed to secure industrial environments as IT and OT systems become more connected.
The Cisco OT Security Practitioner certification targets early-career OT professionals, IT practitioners transitioning into industrial roles, and students interested in industrial cybersecurity. The certification covers industrial networking, security fundamentals, network segmentation, and incident response, according to Cisco.
“The skills needed to secure industrial environments are changing as IT and OT systems become more connected,” said Ryan Rose, director of skills and certification product management for Learn with Cisco. “Organizations are modernizing operations, connecting more industrial assets, and exploring AI, which creates new security requirements and a growing need for people who understand the realities of the plant floor.”
The certification comes as organizations face challenges integrating IT and OT operations. A Cisco survey of 1,000 industry leaders found that 57% of organizations report some level of IT/OT collaboration, while 43% report limited or no collaboration.
Industrial networks present different security challenges
Securing industrial networks requires approaches that differ from traditional enterprise IT environments, according to Rose. Industrial operations often rely on legacy systems that are difficult to update or protect with conventional security controls.
“Safety and availability come first, so routine patching, active scanning, or other familiar IT practices may be impractical or could disrupt equipment and production,” Rose said.
Cisco Talos found that nearly 40% of the 100 most targeted vulnerabilities in 2025 affected end-of-life devices, Rose said. The certification emphasizes network segmentation, monitoring, and security controls that account for industrial operating requirements. Cisco also offers hands-on learning through Cisco Modeling Labs, which provides virtual environments for practicing network designs and configurations without affecting production systems.
“Production environments often can’t tolerate experimentation, so a safe place to build and test skills is especially valuable,” Rose said.
IT/OT convergence changes network skills
As organizations connect more industrial systems and expand their use of AI, the need for OT security skills is growing, according to Rose.
Cisco research found that 34% of organizations cited skills shortages as a barrier to scaling industrial AI. Among organizations reporting limited IT/OT collaboration, 47% identified network instability as a top challenge to scaling AI.
Network professionals increasingly need to understand how connectivity and security decisions affect physical operations, including equipment availability and worker safety, Rose said. “This doesn’t mean every network engineer needs to become an OT expert,” Rose said. “It does mean that shared knowledge matters.”
OT security certification training and exam details
The Cisco OT Security Practitioner certification focuses on industrial control systems (ICS) architectures, network segmentation, traffic monitoring, and incident response. Candidates also study security standards, including ISA/IEC 62443 and NIST 800-82, alongside Cisco Industrial Ethernet switch hardening and Cisco Cyber Vision.
Cisco will offer training through Cisco U. and participating Cisco Networking Academies. The official OT Security Practitioner learning path becomes available through Cisco U. on November 5, 2026. Free introductory courses covering OT protocols, industrial network architectures, security standards, and critical infrastructure protection are already available.
Cisco plans to update its Networking Academy industrial and OT curriculum in January 2027 to align with certification exam topics. Participating academies will have access to training that includes hands-on labs and simulations using Cisco Packet Tracer.
The 810-115 OTSEC exam becomes available on February 3, 2027. According to Cisco, the 60-minute exam costs $150, is offered in English, and has no prerequisites. Candidates who pass will earn the Cisco OT Security Practitioner certification and 15 continuing education credits. The certification is valid for three years.
Rose expects OT security knowledge will become increasingly important for enterprise network engineers, even those who don’t specialize in industrial environments.
“Not every network engineer will need to specialize in OT, but understanding its priorities and working effectively with OT teams will increasingly be part of the job,” Rose said.