Professional Training

OPC UA Security Training Course

A 2-day training course to master the security aspects of OPC UA communications in industrial environments.

Summary

OPC UA is built with robust security mechanisms to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity in industrial systems.

This module delivers a practical overview of OPC UA security, covering secure configuration, certificate management, and access control.

Objectives

  • Participants will learn to address real-world cybersecurity challenges in IIoT environments and gain hands-on experience in securing OPC UA communications.

  • Upon completion, attendees will be prepared to implement and maintain secure OPC UA deployments in industrial contexts.

Target audience

This module is intended for:

  • Security engineers
  • System and cloud administrators
  • Network engineers
  • Industrial systems architects
  • Industrial cybersecurity consultants
  • Developers
  • Anyone involved in securing communications within factories or critical infrastructures

Recommended prerequisites:

  • Basic knowledge of IT and network security concepts

Detailed Training Plan

Day 1: OPC UA Security Fundamentals and Certificate Management

Theory

  • Introduction to OPC UA Security and its importance
  • Common threats and vulnerabilities in industrial communication
  • Overview of OPC UA transport encryption and TLS
  • Basics of public/private key cryptography and encryption types
  • Certificate management and X.509 certificates in OPC UA
  • Certificate validation, revocation, and lifecycle
  • Elliptic curve encryption and securing low-footprint devices

Hands-on Practice

  • Setting up and configuring a Certificate Authority (CA)
  • Generating and managing certificates for OPC UA
  • Managing trusted and rejected certificates
  • Troubleshooting connectivity issues
  • Practical certificate administration for OPC UA servers and clients

Day 2: Advanced Security Topics and Practical Applications

Theory

  • Global Discovery Server (GDS): overview, configuration, best practices, and device onboarding
  • Secure device onboarding and integration with OPC UA security features
  • Managing device certificates and advanced certificate administration
  • Push/pull mechanisms for certificate distribution, automation, renewal, and revocation
  • Securing OPC UA servers and clients, implementing secure channels, and monitoring/auditing security events

Practical Exercise

Comprehensive Security Project

  • Participants work on a comprehensive security project involving GDS, device onboarding, and certificate management
  • Instructor provides guidance and support

Q&A and Wrap-up

  • Open Forum for Questions
  • Review of Key Concepts

Additional Notes

  • Prerequisites : Basic understanding of OPC UA, familiarity with cybersecurity concepts, and some experience with certificate management.

  • Materials Needed: Laptops with necessary software installed, training manuals, and access to OPC UA security documentation.

  • Sterfive provides access to pre-installed softwares on a dedicated plateform. Each participant have access to a fully functional environement with servers clioents and tools through a Remote Desktop connection.

  • The Instructor is experienced cybersecurity professional with hands-on experience in OPC UA security.

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Sterfive SAS is registered as a training provider under number 24450373245.

In accordance with french regulations, this registration does not constitute state approval.

Sterfive - Industrial IoT Solutions