CYBER DEFENSE CENTER
The Cyber Defense Center is not just defending today’s networks, it is shaping the next decade of cybersecurity.
ASCEND
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT WITH A PURPOSE
The ASCEND program offers one of the world’s leading operational technology (OT) cybersecurity education initiatives. It provides cutting-edge certifications, immersive training, and secure workforce awareness programs designed to strengthen cyber capabilities across critical infrastructure sectors.
Graduates of ASCEND don’t just earn credentials, they become part of a mission-driven force defending communities and industries that power daily life. By joining ASCEND, individuals and companies alike gain a force advantage in cybersecurity while contributing to the protection of their nation’s critical infrastructure.
defend
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MUTUAL AID
The DEFEND program provides operational cybersecurity capabilities and wartime readiness support to critical infrastructure organizations, especially rural and municipal utilities that often lack resources. DEFEND harnesses the talent of ASCEND learners and pairs them with industry experts to provide hands-on defense improvements, continuous technical assistance, and emergency response capabilities.
By force-multiplying the efforts of defenders, DEFEND enhances readiness, resilience, and response for the systems that “make, connect, move, and power our world.”
research
SHAPING TOMORROW’S CYBER DEFENSE
At the core of the Cyber Defense Center is research, guided by ethics, openness, and community benefit. Unlike organizations that create closed defense tools, the Center is committed to building open, charitable, and future-focused outcomes.
Through flagship research initiatives like Force Labs, Dronewarz, OTSEC, Breach Report, GridSim, ThreatSpire, PhakeOut, and the annual Cyber Defense Summit, we translate research into tangible tools, training, and community impact.
readiness
PREPARE FOR THE NEXT ERA OF CONFLICT
Our wartime readiness research and tools strengthen critical infrastructure, enhance cyber defense coordination, and model force posture under real-world escalation conditions.
We prepare the nation’s critical infrastructure for the realities of modern warfare. From AI and drone hacking to force posture modeling and community defense coordination, our mission is readiness at every level, ensuring operational continuity, cross-sector collaboration, and consequence informed defense in an increasingly contested digital domain.
MATCH OUR TRAINING WITH YOUR GOALS
OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CYBER SECURITY CERTIFICATIONS
Choose from the following OTSEC certification tracks to demonstrate your proficiency with ICS/OT Cyber Security and electrify your career goals.
The Cyber Defense Associate Certification [CDAC] program helps you gain the skills and knowledge necessary to secure and defend Operational Technology (OT) and Bulk Electric Systems (BES). You will learn critical OT cyber security asset identification, critical infrastructure protection standards, consequence informed engineering practices, cybersecurity defense assessment and architecture principles, cybersecurity measures, and management, incident, and recovery practices.
CYBER DEFENSE PROFESSIONAL
INDUSTRY
The Cyber Defense Professional Certification [CDPC] program helps you gain the additional skills and knowledge necessary to advance your cyber security career and better secure Bulk Electric Systems (BES). You will test and demonstrate your competency and proficiency in a simulated environment. This program prepares you for OT vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, advanced incident response, forensics, sabotage reporting, and other advanced defense techniques and tactics.
CYBER DEFENSE EXPERT
LEADER
The Cyber Defense Expert Certification [CDEC] program helps you prepare and demonstrate expert proficiency in all aspects of Operational Technology (OT) and Bulk Electric System (BES) cyber security. You will learn to build and test secure systems and advance your skills beyond peacetime cyber threats with our wartime preparedness training. You will also complete several advanced simulations using real industrial systems to prepare for real time attack interruption and recovery.
Workforce Development Partners
CHEER US ON AND DONATE TODAY
CYBER DEFENSE CENTER is a not-for-profit, 501(c)3, charity organization. Your support and contributions will enable us to provision the knowledge and resources (ENERGY) needed to meet our ASCEND and DEFEND goals.
