This month marks a major milestone for the Technology Advancement Center (TAC).
TAC has been selected by the Maryland Department of Labor as one of only seven organizations statewide to receive funding through the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program. This investment will expand TAC’s Operational Technology (OT) BoOTcamp™ across Maryland, helping prepare cybersecurity professionals, engineers, technicians, and operators to defend the critical infrastructure systems our communities depend on every day.
The need for Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity expertise has never been greater. According to Forescout Vedere Labs’ 2023 Global Threat Roundup, cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure increased by 30% in 2024, with more than 420 million incidents reported worldwide. At the same time, only 34% of organizations use cybersecurity tools specifically designed to protect Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Operational Technology environments, leaving many essential systems vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated threats.
TAC’s state-funded OT BoOTcamp™ addresses this critical workforce gap through immersive, hands-on training that equips participants with practical experience securing Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) across the 16 Critical Infrastructure Sectors identified by the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
This award reflects Maryland’s commitment to strengthening the state’s cybersecurity workforce while reinforcing its leadership in national security, innovation, and emerging technologies. By expanding access to specialized OT cybersecurity education, TAC is helping build the skilled workforce needed to protect the systems that keep our lights on, our water flowing, our transportation moving, and our defense industrial base operating.
Applications Are Open: State-Funded OT BoOTcamp™ | August 10–14
Ready to build the skills needed to protect the systems that power our communities?
Applications are now open for TAC’s next Operational Technology (OT) BoOTcamp™, taking place August 10–14.
Thanks to funding provided through the Maryland Department of Labor’s Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program, tuition is sponsored for eligible participants, creating an opportunity for Maryland professionals to gain specialized cybersecurity training at no cost.
Selected by the Maryland Department of Labor to expand workforce upskilling and reskilling across the state, TAC’s OT BoOTcamp™ equips participants with the foundational tools and techniques needed to secure Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) while helping close the gap between IT and OT.
During this immersive five-day training, participants will gain hands-on experience with:
- Operational Technology (OT) and Industrial Control Systems (ICS)
- Industrial networking and communications
- OT threat detection and incident response
- PLCs, sensors, and industrial devices
- IT/OT convergence and cybersecurity best practices
- Real-world critical infrastructure scenarios
Whether you are an IT professional looking to transition into OT security or an experienced engineer looking to strengthen your cybersecurity expertise, OT BoOTcamp™ provides practical, instructor-led training designed for today’s evolving threat landscape.
Seats are limited, and applications are now being accepted.
Building Maryland’s Cyber Workforce Together
At TAC, our mission is to connect government, industry, academia, and innovators to strengthen America’s critical infrastructure through workforce development, applied research, and collaboration.
The Maryland Department of Labor’s investment allows TAC to expand that mission even further, bringing hands-on Operational Technology cybersecurity training to more professionals across the state and helping develop the workforce needed to secure the systems that keep our communities running.
We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of OT BoOTcamp™ participants this August.
