TRACKS-CN, a grant project funded by the National Science Foundation, aims to promote education and training at the convergence of robotics, automation, and mechatronics and cybersecurity. The Cyber4RAM badge is available at no cost through the grant and is an effective way to spread cybersecurity awareness to those involved in manufacturing within RAM’s Operational Technology realm. The digital badge presents real-life scenarios that learners must work through using the knowledge they gain in the corresponding module. It includes 11 competencies selected from a list of 54 workforce frameworks for cybersecurity competencies published by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education tied to advanced manufacturing. Learners who complete the course will understand the NICE competencies presented in the badge modules and be able to recognize signs of cyberattacks, reducing the risk of cyberattacks in the manufacturing industry.
Dr. Evelyn Brown, a Salisbury native, is leading an initiative to help manufacturers detect malicious cyber activity before it’s too late to stop it. As the Director of Extension Research and Development for N.C. State Industry Expansion Solutions and the Head Facilitator of TRACKS-CN, she is launching the Cyber for Robotics/Automation/Mechatronics (Cyber4RAM) digital badge for workers in these industries. This badge will provide manufacturers with no-cost cybersecurity awareness training that is specific to the manufacturing industry, allowing employees to recognize signs of a cyberattack and reducing the manufacturer’s risk of becoming a hacking victim.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds TRACKS-CN, a grant project developed by a network of 22 partners, including community colleges, MEPs, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and other initiatives across the US. The network promotes education and training at the convergence of robotics, automation, mechatronics, and cybersecurity.
Manufacturers need to know how to protect their organizations from cyberattacks as cyber threats become more advanced. The TRACKS-CN team believes that a digital badge is an effective way to spread cybersecurity awareness to those involved in manufacturing within RAM’s Operational Technology (OT) realm. The digital badge presents real-life scenarios that learners must work through using the knowledge they gain in the corresponding module.
The Cyber4RAM badge will benefit manufacturers in three areas of a manufacturing facility: robotics, automation, and mechatronics. Cybersecurity awareness training for technicians in these areas is crucial to reducing the risk of cyberattacks. The badge is available at no cost through the NSF grant, and the network of partners involved in TRACKS-CN will promote it.
The whole motivation behind the Cyber4RAM project is the fact that many of today’s manufacturers use cyber-physical systems, meaning that their machines are connected to the internet. Therefore, they are open to outside threats and can be hacked. The badge will enhance manufacturers’ abilities to spot malicious cyber activity before it becomes too late to thwart it.
In conclusion, the Cyber4RAM badge will allow manufacturers to provide their employees with cybersecurity awareness training specific to the manufacturing industry. The digital badge is an effective way to spread cybersecurity awareness to those involved in manufacturing within RAM’s Operational Technology realm. The network of partners involved in TRACKS-CN will promote the badge, and it is available at no cost through the NSF grant. The badge presents real-life scenarios for learners to work through using the knowledge they gain in the corresponding module.
Dr. Evelyn Brown is leading an initiative to enhance manufacturers’ ability to detect malicious cyber activity. As the director of extension research and development for N.C. State Industry Expansion Solutions and head facilitator of TRACKS-CN, she is launching the Cyber for Robotics/Automation/Mechatronics (Cyber4RAM) digital badge for workers in these industries. The 11 competencies covered by the badge were selected from a list of 54 workforce frameworks for cybersecurity competencies published by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). The 11 competencies tied to advanced manufacturing include asset and inventory management, computer languages, data privacy, data security, digital forensics, identity management, incident management, infrastructure design, physical device security, systems integration, and vulnerabilities assessment.
The Cyber4RAM badge will enable manufacturers to provide their employees with cybersecurity awareness training that is specific to the manufacturing industry, free of charge. The badge’s modules cover 11 NICE competencies, and learners will be able to confidently carry out their job responsibilities and recognize signs of cyberattacks after completing the course. Although learners may not be able to stop or prevent a cyberattack, they will be able to act accordingly and inform their superiors of potential threats.
Dr. Brown emphasized the importance of cyber awareness for everyone but explained that this badge is focused on technicians who work in robotics, automation, and mechatronics at manufacturing facilities. Having employees who can recognize signs of a cyberattack is crucial in reducing the manufacturer’s risk of becoming a hacking statistic.
To access the digital course, interested individuals may visit https://ncmep.org/tracks-cn/badge/. For more information on how the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension partnership can help manufacturers, visit https://ncmep.org/.
TRACKS-CN, a grant project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), is a network of 22 partners, including community colleges, manufacturing extension partnerships (MEPs), Manufacturing USA Institutes, and other institutions and initiatives across the US. The network’s core mission is to promote education and training at the convergence of robotics, automation, and mechatronics (RAM) and cybersecurity.
Given that many of today’s manufacturers use cyber-physical systems, their machines are connected to the internet, making them open to outside threats and susceptible to hacking. With cybersecurity threats advancing all the time, manufacturers need to understand how to protect their organizations from cyberattacks. Thus, the TRACKS-CN team created the Cyber4RAM badge, which is available at no cost through the grant.
The Cyber4RAM badge is an effective way to spread cybersecurity awareness to those involved in manufacturing within RAM’s Operational Technology (OT) realm. The badge consists of real-life scenarios that learners must work through using the knowledge they gain in the corresponding module. The digital badge includes 11 competencies selected from a list of 54 workforce frameworks for cybersecurity competencies published by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) tied to advanced manufacturing:
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Asset and Inventory Management
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Computer Languages
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Data Privacy
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Data Security
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Digital Forensics
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Identity Management
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Incident Management
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Infrastructure Design
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Physical Device Security
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Systems Integration
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Vulnerabilities Assessment
Once learners complete the course, they will understand the 11 NICE competencies presented in the badge modules and be able to confidently carry out their job responsibilities and recognize signs of cyberattacks. The badge empowers learners to behave in certain manners and have more awareness of these competencies, enabling them to alert their bosses if they think a hack is about to happen.
To access the digital course, visit https://ncmep.org/tracks-cn/badge/. For more information on how the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension partnership can help manufacturers, visit https://ncmep.org/.
In summary, TRACKS-CN is a grant project funded by the NSF that promotes education and training at the convergence of robotics, automation, and mechatronics and cybersecurity. The Cyber4RAM badge is an effective way to spread cybersecurity awareness to those involved in manufacturing within RAM’s OT realm, and it includes 11 competencies selected from a list of 54 workforce frameworks for cybersecurity competencies published by NICE. Learners can confidently carry out their job responsibilities and recognize signs of cyberattacks after completing the course, which can help reduce the risk of cyberattacks.
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