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Mandatory requirements

To apply for this program, you must have previously completed post-secondary studies at an accredited post-secondary institution or provide proof of related work experience.

Review admission requirements for more details.

Overview

Are you ready to take your knowledge and experience in cyber security to the next level? The Cyber Security for Control Systems program is designed for individuals who have completed related post-secondary studies or gained work-related experience in the field.

Whether you are an IT professional or technician, an industrial control systems (ICS) specialist, or someone focused on cyber-physical systems (CPS) and IT, this program equips you with the skills to safeguard critical control systems in diverse industrial environments.

In this post-diploma certificate, you will:

  • explore the unique challenges of securing digital control systems in drilling and wellsites, power plants, power grids, water plants, manufacturing facilities, production lines, telecommunications networks and hospitals. 
  • learn how to defend systems that have transitioned from analog to digital, making them more susceptible to cyber threats and cybercrime
  • gain insights into risk management principles with universal application, essential to every industry, by enhancing control systems’ safety, reliability, security and resilience
  • learn from experienced instructors with real-world knowledge and practical insights to address the evolving landscape of cyber threats in industrial settings.
Our program is designed to accommodate professionals at different stages of their careers. Our curriculum can meet your needs whether you’re looking to upskill or pivot your career to computer security.

Master the challenges of cyber security in the industrial domain.

You should have education and/or work experience in industrial systems (SCADA, PLCs, Instrumentation, etc.) and/or computer networking or related fields.

You understand the importance of cybersecurity and are intrigued by how critical infrastructure and operations technologies can be compromised and want to protect these assets.

People in the cyber security field tend to be innovative, objective, and directive.

You need:

  • analytical skills
  • speaking and writing skills
  • an inquiring and inventive mind
  • an eye for details
  • patience and an organized approach to troubleshooting
  • decision-making and problem-solving skills
  • math and science skills
  • teaching skills
  • time-management skills
  • high ethical standards.
To do well in this field, you should enjoy being innovative, working with others or independently, and doing your work with precision.

The opportunity to advance your education by transferring into this program or gain credit for previous postsecondary courses may be available.

There may also be opportunities to further your education once you graduate.

Learn more about program and institution transfer options.

You’ll participate in a capstone project to use all the techniques gained throughout the program to expose vulnerabilities in large systems specific to industrial control systems. 

International bundle program

International applicants may only apply to this program as part of a program bundle - two programs delivered consecutively.

You will complete the Cyber Security for Control post-diploma certificate in the first year of study.

In the second year of study, you will complete a Management and Leadership certificate to prepare you to lead a team through disruptive change to the working environment.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both programs in the bundle. A combination of education and experience will be considered.

Upon completing both programs in a bundle, you may qualify for a post-graduate work permit of up to three years. If you only complete one of the programs, you may be eligible for a one-year post-graduate work permit. 

Bundle program details

Once you graduate, you’ll be prepared with the knowledge to challenge the Security+ and Comp Tia+ exams and earn your certifications. 

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a SAIT Cyber Security for Control Systems post-diploma certificate.

Download program info

Careers and opportunities

Each year, SAIT conducts a survey between February and April to determine the employment rate, salary and satisfaction of our newest SAIT alumni. 

people icon 75% graduate employment rate

Find out more about our graduate employment statistics >

Our graduates may work in the following occupations. Some careers require additional experience and education.

Associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 20012, 21211, 22220, 21220, 21221, 21222.

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Career counselling and support

Unsure which career path is for you? SAIT offers career planning services to help you decide your future.

You can also get started by taking our online career finder quiz, which can help you narrow down your search based on your current skills and interests.

Finally, you can also head to Alberta alis for various tools and resources, including additional quizzes and labour market information to help you narrow down a career path.

Services and workshops

Courses

The Cyber Security for Control Systems certificate requires 27.5 credits (10 courses) to complete.

Course Credits

This course examines industry standards used in the life cycle management of industrial control systems. You will consider NIST, ISA/IEC 62243 and ISO 27001 in the context of industry examples. You will also learn how to assess the maturity of an industrial control system through audits and related compliance activities and how to develop remediation projects in response to audit reports.

 3

This course defines and explores the industrial control system (ICS) and where it is used in our day-to-day lives. The topics include attack vectors and the application of appropriate barriers to ensure systems' reliability, availability, confidentiality and integrity. The ICS security ecosystem, the future of ICS, the industrial internet of things, cyber security and ongoing cyber security professional development will also be covered.

Pre-requisites:
  • CPRG 407 or CPSY 401
 3

Understanding the criticality of ICS, how the physical process works and understanding the consequences and differences between corporate and control and threats and vulnerabilities. Being able to assess risks, defensive, postures and recommend actions. Understand security basics (CIA, TRIAD, AIC).

Pre-requisites:
  • CPRG 407 or CPSY 401
 3

This course introduces basic switching, routing and general network communication protocols from the functionality and vulnerability viewpoints. Topics include TCP/IP networking, ICS protocols and terminology, network design, troubleshooting and tools.

Pre-requisites:
  • CPRG 407 or CPSY 401
 3

This course examines the evolution of strategic thought from antiquity to the modern day. The coursework focuses on continuities and discontinuities in strategic analysis and theory.

 1.5

This course examines the concepts used in industrial control systems' threat and vulnerability management. You will consider real-life examples of managing threats, vulnerabilities of ICS systems and attacks aimed at ICS systems. You will also learn how to leverage cyber intelligence, including darkweb-based cyber intelligence in improving the cyber maturity of an industrial control system.

 3

Defending and developing a response to cyber attack incidents.

Pre-requisites:
  • ITSC 402
 3

This course provides an overview of business operations and change management for ICS security. You will learn basic communication skills, including technical writing and presentation skills, and examine topics such as continuity planning, business drivers for ICS operations, and the importance of self-attitude and customer focus. You will also consider ICS network design and how to troubleshoot network issues.

Pre-requisites:
  • ITSC 402
 1.5

This capstone project provides students with simulated environments for penetration testing and hardening. The emphasis is that students use all the techniques gained throughout the program to expose vulnerabilities in large systems specific to ICS. The final project will be a documented penetration of a well-protected system and a presentation of recommendations for hardening the system.

Pre-requisites:
  • CMPC 401
  • CMPC 402
  • CMPC 403
  • CMPN 403
  • ITSC 401
  • ITSC 403
  • MMGT 400
 3

Choose one of the following electives, considered pre-requisite electives.

Course Credits

This course provides an overview of industrial control systems using digital controllers. Besides providing learners with an introduction to Programmable Logic Controller, practical outcomes for this course include configuring and programming a Programmable Logic Controller, applying the IEC 61131-3 industrial controller programming languages and then combining this knowledge to program an automatic control system.

 3

This introductory course provides ICS operators with training in IT concepts, shell scripting and an understanding of devices with an embedded OS/firmware. Topics include Wintel, networking and storage.

 3

Progression

Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.

Review our grading and progression procedure >

Admission requirements

Applicants educated in Canada

Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and meet one of the following requirements or equivalents:

  • completion of a two-year diploma or undergraduate degree in information technology, instrumentation, or related technical discipline
  • three to five years of experience in information technology, instrumentation or a related technical discipline would also be accepted with approval from the program academic chair. A combination of education and experience will be considered.

This program is only available for international students as a bundled program. Please see the specialized intake information above. 

All applicants who were educated outside of Canada must demonstrate English Language proficiency and provide proof they meet the program admission requirements with an international document assessment. Find out what educational documents are accepted and assessment options.

SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.

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English language proficiency

All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.

Learn more

Available intakes

Spring 2024

Start dates:

  • May 06, 2024
Domestic students: Cancelled
  • Application deadline: Extended

Fall 2024

Start dates:

  • Sep 03, 2024
Domestic students: Open
  • Application deadline: June 28, 2024
International program bundle: Closed
  • Application deadline: May 29, 2024

Costs

2024/25 tuition and fees

The following estimated costs are effective as of July 1, 2024. 

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $14,175 $1,608 $15,783
Total cost:
 $15,783

This program is only available to international applicants as part of a program bundle with another certificate.

The below costs represent both programs in the bundle.

Cyber Security for Control Systems (year one) + Management and Leadership (year two) bundle
The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $21,624 $1,608 $23,232
2 2 $18,210 $1,608 $19,818
Total cost:
 $43,050

Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 - $1,500 per full-time year.

This is a bring-your-own-device program with a power-user hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.

Find your booklist on the SAIT Bookstore's website. The booklist will be available closer to the program start date.

Can’t find your program or course? The bookstore didn't receive a textbook list. Contact your program directly to determine if they’re still refining course details or if you're in luck; no textbook purchase is required this term.

2023/24 tuition and fees

The following costs are effective until June 30, 2024.

Domestic students

The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for domestic students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $13,905 $1,570 $15,475
Total cost:
 $15,475

This program is only available to international applicants as part of a program bundle with another certificate.

The below costs represent both programs in the bundle.

Cyber Security for Control Systems (year one) + Management and Leadership (year two)
The estimated total cost of tuition and fees for international students is based on the recommended course load per year.
Year Number of semesters Tuition fees Additional fees Total per year
1 2 $23,862.87 $1,570 $25,432.87
2 2.5 $18,207.90 $1,965 $20,172.90
Total cost:
 $45,605.77
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Financial aid

Paying for your education may feel overwhelming, but we have resources and programs that can help, including information about payment options, student loans, grants and scholarships.

Learn more

Application process

International bundle program applicants

International applicants can only apply to this program as part of a program bundle.

Once you have reviewed the admission requirements for both programs in this bundle, sign in to the application portal to begin your application.

When selecting your programs, your first choice should be the program delivered in year one. The second choice program will be the program delivered in year two.

The bundle is unavailable to domestic applicants, who may apply to the stand-alone program.

Ready to apply?

Follow our step-by-step guide to submitting a successful application.

Learn how to apply

Communication during admission

Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sadt.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.

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Begin your application

Apply now using the online application portal. 

Ensure you have a valid Visa or Mastercard to pay the non-refundable application fee of $120 for domestic applicants or $150 for international applicants. 

Apply now

Information sessions

Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.

Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:

  • What sets SAIT apart
  • An introduction to the program and area of study
  • Admission requirements
  • Future career paths
  • Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.

Contact us

School for Advanced Digital Technology

403.284.8543
sadt.advising@sait.ca