Cybersecurity · Free online course
Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers: Hardening Siemens and Rockwell Controllers
Harden the PLCs you already program: Siemens access levels, know-how, copy and project protection, secure communication and users, Rockwell source protection, CIP Security and zones, and the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices, from the people who wrote them.
- 9 modules
- 4h 51m of video
- Intermediate
- English
- ₹0, free
- Lab practice in your browser
₹0Free for good
Worth ₹3,499 by length and depth against classroom training. It has always been free; that is not a former price.
No card. Checkout takes a minute and gives you a receipt.
Certificate ₹599, optional. The course is free either way.
Overview
About Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers: Hardening Siemens and Rockwell Controllers
Harden the Siemens and Rockwell PLCs you already program, using access levels, source protection and secure coding practices.
Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers: Hardening Siemens and Rockwell Controllers is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for PLC programmers, automation engineers and OT maintenance staff. It has 9 modules and 4h 51m of video lessons, with written notes, a practice task per module, a practical project and a final assessment of 15 questions (pass mark 60%). Learning costs nothing and needs only a free account. The optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, verifiable by code, is a one-off ₹599 inclusive of GST for learners in India; it is not a vendor credential. Updated 1 November 2026.
Who it is for: PLC programmers, automation engineers and OT maintenance staff
This course includes
- 4h 51m of video lessons
- 9 modules with written notes and diagrams
- One final assessment: 15 questions, pass mark 60%
- Ask-an-engineer support from practising engineers
- Lifetime access, the course does not expire
- Optional verifiable certificate when you finish
- Step 1 of 3
Learn the 9 modules
4h 51m of video lessons, written notes and a practice task per module, at your own pace.
- Step 2 of 3
Pass the final assessment
15 questions drawn from every module, pass mark 60%, 3 attempts.
- Step 3 of 3
Take the certificate, if you want it
Optional, paid once, only if you choose it. The course stays free either way.
See the certificate and its price
A look inside
From the lessons
Why PLCs get attacked
by Mike Holcomb
Secure coding and device integrity: the ideas
by AppSec Pacific Northwest
Siemens: access protection and the security wizard
by EandM
Siemens: know-how, copy and project protection
by Siemens Knowledge Hub
Users, certificates and the web server
by Outlier Automation
Rockwell: source protection, CIP Security, zones and conduits
by Rockwell Automation
Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits and are shown from YouTube.
What you learn
What you will be able to do
By the end you will be able to:
- Explain how controllers are attacked and which controls stop each step
- Set Siemens access levels, know-how and copy protection
- Configure secure communication, users and the web server
- Apply Rockwell source protection, CIP Security and zones
- Review PLC code against the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices
How it works
How this course works
Watch the lessons
Short video lessons, one module at a time, at your own pace.
Read the notes
Open the Reading tab for the written notes and diagrams of the module.
Practise in the 3D labOptional
Try the module in the free 3D lab, in your browser.
Check yourself
Answer the questions to see what stuck before you move on.
Final assessment
Pass the final once you have been through the modules.
Certificate, if you want oneOptional
Optional, with a page anyone can use to verify it.
Syllabus
Course content, module by module
In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.
- Modules
- 9
- Video lessons
- 24
- Of video
- 4h 51m
- Final questions
- 15
- 01
Why PLCs get attacked, with lab practice:
2 lessons · 13m - 02
Secure coding and device integrity: the ideas
2 lessons · 38m - 03
Siemens: access protection and the security wizard
3 lessons · 23m - 04
Siemens: know-how, copy and project protection
4 lessons · 35m - 05
Users, certificates and the web server
4 lessons · 49m - 06
Rockwell: source protection, CIP Security, zones and conduits, with lab practice:
6 lessons · 32m - 07
The Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices
1 lesson · 46m - 08
Using the controller's own features to detect trouble, with lab practice:
1 lesson · 43m Final assessment · 15 questions, pass mark 60%
3D lab
Practise in the 3D lab
Practise the network side of PLC security in the OT security lab: where each controller sits, which zones it belongs to, and how to keep and prove a known-good backup.
- Map the plant network: put every device on its levelOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Map the plant network: put every device on its level
- Zones and conduits: split a flat networkOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Zones and conduits: split a flat network
- Backup and recovery: known-good copies and a proved restoreOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Backup and recovery: known-good copies and a proved restore
Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.
Project
The course project
Optional practice that ends in the kind of job the course prepares you for, with the documents that go with it.
About 10 hours
Hardening the PLCs on a food packaging line: asset inventory, zones and conduits, secure configuration baseline and verification report
Harden the controllers on a mixed Siemens and Rockwell packaging line as the controls engineer responsible for them. Build the asset inventory, draw the zones and conduits, write the secure configuration baseline for each controller type, and verify what you can in simulation.
- 5documents in the pack
- 5steps to follow
- Laboptional: in the 3D lab
- 5things to hand in
- 10 hof work, at your pace
Do it in the lab: 5 steps.
Sample document pack, 5 documents, filled in for the scenario
- Asset inventoryAsset inventory: biscuit packaging line 2
- Zones & conduitsZones and conduits: packaging line 2
- ProcedureSecure configuration baseline: line 2 controllers
- Test reportHardening verification report: line 2 shutdown
- Risk registerRisk register: packaging line 2 controllers
Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
Tools
Software, hardware and lessons
Software
TIA Portal (trial) with PLCSIM, and Studio 5000 if you have access. Every exercise can be done with one vendor's software.
Hardware
None required. A spare S7-1200 or CompactLogix makes the hardening exercises more real.
Who it is for
Intermediate. You should already program Siemens or Allen-Bradley PLCs. ICS Security Foundations is a useful companion if the security vocabulary is new.
Video lessons by
- Mike Holcomb
- ICS Village
- (CS)²AI
- AppSec Pacific Northwest
- GRIMM Cyber
- S4 Events
- Siemens Knowledge Hub
- Rockwell Automation
- Hegamurl
- Outlier Automation
- EandM
- PLC SCADA ENGINEER
- Tim Wilborne
Independent creators, credited in full under Credits.
Software you need
What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.
Every exercise can be done with one vendor's software. Studio 5000 is only for learners who already have access to it.
Required
- 01Free trial: 21 days
SIMATIC STEP 7 Professional and WinCC (TIA Portal) V21 Trial
Siemens
- Runs on
- Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise 64-bit (24H2), Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC, or Windows Server 2022/2025. Windows 11 Home is supported only for the Basic editions.
- Account
- A free Siemens account registered for Industry Online Support (SiePortal)
- Size
- about 8.1 GB for the main ISO, plus an optional 3.1 GB DVD 2 with hardware support packages
Siemens lets registered users download the V21 trial of STEP 7 (Basic and Professional), STEP 7 Safety and WinCC and test it for 21 days. The same package is used for the full product; after 21 days you need a purchased licence to keep working.
Steps
- 1.Open the Siemens trial page (entry 109989774) and sign in with your Siemens Industry Online Support account.
- 2.Download TIA_Portal_STEP7_Safety_WinCC_V21.iso (8.1 GB).
- 3.Download S7-PLCSIM_V21.iso (2.5 GB) from the same page: PLCSIM is a separate download.
- 4.Right-click each ISO, choose Mount, and run Start.exe as administrator. Install STEP 7 and WinCC first, then PLCSIM.
- 5.Follow the setup, accept the licence terms and restart the PC when asked.
- 6.Open TIA Portal V21 and create a new project to confirm it runs.
- Install from a local drive with plenty of free space; Siemens lists 20 GB free as the minimum and the ISOs alone are over 10 GB.
- You only need DVD 2 if you want extra hardware support packages.
- If you cannot install locally, Siemens also offers a 21-day TIA Portal Cloud trial in the browser (one-hour sessions, not in every country).
Official download pagesupport.industry.siemens.comAlternatives
- TIA Portal Cloud trial: 21 days free in a cloud virtual machine, no install. Sessions are limited to one hour and it is not available in every country.
- 02Free trial: 21 days
S7-PLCSIM V21 (TIA Portal) Trial
Siemens
- Runs on
- Windows 11 Pro or Enterprise 64-bit (24H2), Windows 10 Enterprise 2021 LTSC, or Windows Server 2022/2025. Windows 11 Home is supported only for the Basic editions.
- Account
- A free Siemens account registered for Industry Online Support (SiePortal)
- Size
- about 2.5 GB (ISO)
S7-PLCSIM V21 is offered as a 21-day trial on the same Siemens page as the STEP 7 and WinCC V21 trial. It needs STEP 7 V21 installed on the same PC.
Steps
- 1.Open the Siemens STEP 7 and WinCC V21 trial page (entry 109989774) and sign in.
- 2.Install STEP 7 V21 from the main TIA Portal ISO first.
- 3.Download S7-PLCSIM_V21.iso (2.5 GB) from the section Download S7-PLCSIM Standard V21.
- 4.Mount the ISO, run Start.exe as administrator and follow the setup.
- 5.In TIA Portal, select your CPU and click Start simulation to open PLCSIM.
- Siemens notes that the PLCSIM Standard V21 installation also includes S7-PLCSIM Advanced V8.0.
Official download pagesupport.industry.siemens.com
Optional
Useful, not needed to finish the course.
- 03Paid only
Studio 5000 Logix Designer
Rockwell Automation
- Runs on
- Windows (check the Studio 5000 entry on the Product Compatibility and Download Center for exact versions)
- Account
- A Rockwell Automation account plus a purchased licence (serial number or subscription)
Rockwell sells Studio 5000 Logix Designer as a perpetual licence or a paid subscription. Rockwell's product page offers no public free trial or free edition.
Steps
- 1.If your employer or college has a Studio 5000 licence, ask for access and the serial number.
- 2.Sign in to the Rockwell Product Compatibility and Download Center and search for Studio 5000 Logix Designer.
- 3.Download the version that matches your controller firmware.
- 4.Install it as administrator and activate the licence with FactoryTalk Activation Manager.
- 5.If you have no licence, use one of the free Rockwell tools listed below instead.
- Match the Logix Designer major version to the controller firmware you will use.
Rockwell Automation product pagerockwellautomation.comLegitimate free routes
- Connected Components Workbench Standard Edition: Free. Programs Micro800 controllers and includes a demo Micro800 Simulator.
- FactoryTalk Design Workbench: Free Rockwell tool for Micro800 controllers, listed with the free downloads on PCDC.
- RSLogix Micro Starter Lite: Free edition for MicroLogix 1000 and 1100.
- FactoryTalk Design Studio free trial: Rockwell's cloud-based Logix design software with a free 90-day trial in the browser.
- Rockwell Automation training: Instructor-led Studio 5000 courses; an employer licence is the other legitimate route.
Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.
What you walk away with
Your certificate for Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers: Hardening Siemens and Rockwell Controllers
Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.
Verifiable by anyone
Adds to LinkedIn in one click
QR code on the certificate
Names what you can do
A permanent link
Earned, not attended
Learning is free. The certificate is optional.
Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$28.99, with a receipt.
Issued by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales, company no. 15262249) through the EDWartens training portal, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold in India by Wartens Automation Private Limited. It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.
Practise what you learn in the free 3D lab
Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.
- Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
- The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
- Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.
Why learn with EDWartens
What you get with this course.
- Free from the first lesson to the final assessment.
- Practice in a free 3D lab in your browser, with nothing to install.
- Video lessons with written notes and a project.
- An optional certificate that anyone can verify online.
FAQ
Common questions
Is this a hacking course?
No. It teaches PLC programmers to protect the controllers they are responsible for. There are no techniques for breaking into equipment, and the course deliberately leaves out password-unlocking tools.
How is it different from OT and ICS Cybersecurity with IEC 62443?
That course covers the standard and the security programme. This one is hands-on for PLC programmers: the protection settings in TIA Portal and Studio 5000, and secure coding in the logic itself. They complement each other.
Do I need both Siemens and Rockwell software?
No. Most exercises use TIA Portal with PLCSIM; the Rockwell module can be followed from its lessons and documentation if you do not have Studio 5000.
Where do the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices come from?
A community project led by Sarah Fluchs and Vivek Ponnada and freely available. The course uses their own talks, credited on the module, and none of the authors is affiliated with EDWartens.
Is the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course really free?
Yes. Every module, the notes, the project and the final assessment. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.
What certificate does the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course give?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not a vendor or ISA/GIAC certification.
How long does the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course take?
About 8 hours of lessons and reading, plus about 10 hours for the project. At a few hours a week alongside work, that is two to three weeks.
Does it prepare me for CompTIA SecOT+ or GICSP?
Not directly. Those exams cover OT security broadly; this course goes deep on one part of it, the controller and its code. It is a useful practical companion, and EDWartens is not affiliated with CompTIA or GIAC.
Do I have to use the lab?
No. The lab is optional practice. You can skip it whenever you like, and it never blocks your progress, the final assessment or your certificate.
Is the lab free?
Yes. Every lab level for this course opens in your browser, free, with nothing to install.
Is the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course free in India, and what does the certificate cost?
Yes. Learning costs ₹0 in India: every module, the written notes, the practice tasks and the final assessment, with no card and no trial period. The only paid item is the optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹599 including GST for this intermediate course, paid in rupees through Razorpay, and only if you want it after passing the final assessment.
What topics does the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course cover, module by module?
The Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course has 9 modules. It opens with "Why PLCs get attacked", goes through "Secure coding and device integrity: the ideas", "Siemens: know-how, copy and project protection", "Rockwell: source protection, CIP Security, zones and conduits" and "Using the controller's own features to detect trouble" and ends with "Final Assessment". The full list with minutes is under "What you learn" on this page.
What can I do after the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course?
After the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course: Explain how controllers are attacked and which controls break each step; Set Siemens access levels and use the TIA Portal security wizard; Apply know-how, write, copy and project protection. These are the practical outcomes the course is written around, and the final assessment of 15 questions checks them.
What software and hardware do I need for the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course, and does it cost anything?
For the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course, software: TIA Portal (trial) with PLCSIM, and Studio 5000 if you have access. Every exercise can be done with one vendor's software. Hardware: none required. A spare S7-1200 or CompactLogix makes the hardening exercises more real. The course itself is free.
Is the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course suitable for me, and what level is it?
Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers is rated intermediate. Intermediate. You should already program Siemens or Allen-Bradley PLCs. ICS Security Foundations is a useful companion if the security vocabulary is new. It is written for PLC programmers, automation engineers and OT maintenance staff, and has 4h 51m of video lessons at your own pace.
Which jobs use the skills from the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course?
Skills from the Cybersecurity for PLC Programmers course (for example: explain how controllers are attacked and which controls break each step) are used in OT security engineer work. The course gives you practical evidence of the skill; it does not promise a job, and employers decide on experience and interview.
All course factsHide course facts
- Price
- ₹0, free for good. No trial, no card. Comparable classroom training of this length costs about ₹3,499.
- Who it is for
- PLC programmers, automation engineers and OT maintenance staff
- Format
- 9 self-paced modules, 4h 51m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
- Level
- Intermediate. Intermediate. You should already program Siemens or Allen-Bradley PLCs. ICS Security Foundations is a useful companion if the security vocabulary is new.
- Brand
- Vendor-neutral
- Software
- TIA Portal (trial) with PLCSIM, and Studio 5000 if you have access. Every exercise can be done with one vendor's software.
- Hardware
- None required. A spare S7-1200 or CompactLogix makes the hardening exercises more real.
- Certificate
- Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, ₹599 inclusive of GST for learners in India, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
- Video lessons by
- Mike Holcomb, ICS Village, (CS)²AI, AppSec Pacific Northwest, GRIMM Cyber, S4 Events, Siemens Knowledge Hub, Rockwell Automation, Hegamurl, Outlier Automation, EandM, PLC SCADA ENGINEER, Tim Wilborne (independent creators, credited below)
- Language
- English
- Last updated
- 1 November 2026
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Credits
Who made the video lessons
The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.
- Mike Holcomblessons on what OT is and the OT security career path
- ICS Villagethe Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices talk by Sarah Fluchs and Vivek Ponnada
- (CS)²AIVivek Ponnada's introduction to the Top 20 Secure PLC Coding Practices
- AppSec Pacific NorthwestVivek Ponnada on secure coding of industrial control systems
- GRIMM CyberVivek Ponnada on using native ICS functionality to improve security
- S4 Eventsthe talk on PLC and Level 1 device integrity
- Siemens Knowledge HubS7-1500 intellectual property protection
- Rockwell AutomationFactoryTalk Security, source protection, CIP Security and FactoryTalk Policy Manager zones and conduits
- HegamurlTIA Portal password, block, copy, project and web server protection
- Outlier Automationuser management with UMC and TLS certificates in TIA Portal
- EandMa lesson in "Siemens: access protection and the security wizard"
- PLC SCADA ENGINEERa lesson in "Siemens: access protection and the security wizard"
- Tim Wilbornea lesson in "Rockwell: source protection, CIP Security, zones and conduits"
If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@edwartens.co.in.