International Society of Automation and University of Akron Team Up to Offer Cybersecurity Courses

The International Society of Automation (ISA), a globally recognized authority for industrial automation training since 1945, and the University of Akron, an influential public research university in the region, have entered into a workforce training agreement to offer the ISA IEC62443 Cybersecurity Training and Certificate program in Akron.

Through this arrangement, the University of Akron will now host ISA courses, taught by subject matter experts, on the university’s campus. This ISA Open Enrollment Center will complement the University of Akron’s curriculum for workforce development of industrial cybersecurity professionals. Associates in both IT and operations technology (OT) should attend these classes for information on how to assess risk, design, and implement cybersecurity plans to protect vital automation control systems based on ISA IEC62443 Cybersecurity Standards.

“Our mission in education is clear: answer the workforce needs of industry,” says Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, dean of the University of Akron’s College of Applied Science and Technology. “With an investment from private donors, we have created an Industrial Control System Testbed for industry use in maintaining their systems and exploring new ways to protect them. The ISA site use agreement is a perfect complement to this critical need.”

“ISA is pleased to add an open enrollment location in Akron for cybersecurity short courses,” says Mary Ramsey, executive director of ISA. “The state of Ohio has shown its commitment to IT and OT cybersecurity training and education through its new Cyber Range co-hosted at the University of Akron and the University of Cincinnati, as well as the University of Akron’s control systems testbed for industry use. These actions complement our vision to create a better world through automation, and we are pleased to build this relationship to serve the need for cybersecurity workforce development in Akron.”

ON DEMAND: Business-impacting events such as severe weather, man-made disasters, and supply chain disruption are increasing in frequency and making impacts around the globe.

In today's rapidly evolving security landscape, organizations face an ever-growing array of disruptive events, security threats and risks. Traditional reactive approaches to security intelligence often leave businesses vulnerable and ill-prepared to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats that could impact the safety of their people, facilities or operations.