What is OT Defender?
The Operational Technology (OT) Defender Fellowship is a highly-selective education program created, funded, and led by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER).
It is designed to give middle- and senior-level Operations Technology security managers in the energy sector the opportunity to learn about the strategies used to target our energy infrastructure, and the cybersecurity tools and tactics the U.S. government is using to counter them. Because security managers play such a decisive role in defending the energy sector against cyberattacks and physical security breaches, developing and honing their skills is crucial to protecting our national security.
The OT Defender Fellowship offers one cohort per year with a small group of highly qualified participants. The program serves not only as a collaboration opportunity, but as an information exchange between government and energy sector experts that fosters two-way advancement of cybersecurity capabilities and processes.
During the fellowship, participants will:
- Build and enhance relationships between energy sector and government cybersecurity managers
- Develop and learn about strategies to organize and consume information about cyberattacks
- Gain a better understanding of the threats against critical infrastructure, including the potential for physical consequences
- Learn about capabilities for detection of, defense against, and recovery from cyberattacks
- Equip themselves with actionable information, insight, and connections to apply in their roles post-fellowship
The OT Defender program is hosted by the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and funded by the Department of Energy (DOE). For more information about the program and the candidate requirements, visit the INL OT Defender Webpage.
