“Trent’s CSSA certification further demonstrates Applied Trust’s unmatched qualifications in performing SCADA security assessments and assisting with architectural design of critical infrastructure systems,” noted Ned McClain, Applied Trust CTO. “Especially with the advent of the Mandatory Reliability Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection (aka “CIP”) (18 CFR Part 39), now more than ever organizations need information security experts who have hands-on experience with SCADA and real-time industrial process control.”

SCADA is an acronym for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition. It refers to a system that collects data from various sensors at factories, plants, or other remote locations, and then sends this data to a central computer, which then manages and controls the data. SCADA is typically used to control facilities with complex processes such as water treatment plants, wastewater plants, oil refineries, power generation plants, power transmission grids, and chemical manufacturing plants.

The CSSA determines whether a candidate possesses adequate knowledge to properly secure a SCADA environment. It is designed to be relevant for power transmission, oil and gas and water treatment industries and encompasses the following domains: SCADA security policy development, SCADA security standards and best practices, access control, SCADA protocol security issues, securing field communications, user authentication and authorization, detecting cyber attacks on SCADA systems, and vulnerability assessment.

Trent originally began his career in IT programming industrial process controllers, providing a strong foundation for understanding the real-time aspects of SCADA systems and their unique security challenges. He also holds several other technical certifications, including his standing as a 10-year Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE-10), #1941, and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) #54481, with an Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP) and Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP) designation.

About Applied Trust Engineering
Applied Trust Engineering provides IT security and network/systems infrastructure consulting services. The company serves clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, recreation and government. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Applied Trust's proven process and industry-recognized experts deliver increased security, performance and availability, while reducing ecological impact. For more information, visit www.atrust.com.