OT Security Introduction - Afternoon Seminar (28th of January 2026)
OT Security Introduction - Afternoon Seminar (28th of January 2026)
WCM, UGent, and Howest launch a masterclass series as part of the Interreg project Offshore For Sure. The series addresses key topics in asset management, with a focus on the offshore wind sector, but we welcome interested participants from any industry sector.
The inaugural session in Bruges focuses on Industrial/OT Security, addressing the critical cybersecurity needs of offshore energy infrastructure. See you on the 28th of January 2026 for an introduction to the risks, challenges, protection measures and best practices of OT Security.
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Quick facts
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Free Afternoon Seminar to Introduce OT Security
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Series Kick-off: January 28, 2026, in Bruges, Belgium
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Expert Collaboration: A joint effort between Belgian and Dutch knowledge institutions and industry leaders
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Key Focus: Protecting offshore assets from cyber threats while navigating NIS2 and CyFun regulations
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Cost: The first session on OT Security is free of charge for registered participants
This OT Security Introduction Strengthens Operational Resilience in the Offshore Sector
What is it?
On January 28th, we organise an in-depth afternoon seminar on OT/Industrial Security, with a focus on offshore and remote environments. We’ll discuss why OT security matters, the risks involved, and practical solutions for building resilience. Expect real-world examples, regulatory insights, and maritime cybersecurity perspectives.
Who is it for?
Professionals in OT, industrial security, energy infrastructure, and offshore projects, as well as anyone interested in cybersecurity for operational environments. By attending, professionals will gain actionable insights into how to protect critical infrastructure.
Programme (12:30 – 17:30)
12:30 – 13:30: Welcome, Sandwiches and Networking
13:30 – 14:00: Session start, Intro to this Masterclass and Overview of the Offshore For Sure project
14:00 – 14:45: OT Security: What is it, Why is it important, What are the Risks & Some Hacking Examples
This section discusses the fundamental question: "What is OT security, and why does it matter today?". Participants will explore real-world hacking examples and identify the specific risks associated with offshore environments. Understanding these threats is the first step toward building true cyber resilience.
14:45 – 15:30: Building Cyber Resilience: Protection Measures, Blue Teaming, SOC/Monitoring
This section covers practical protection measures, including Blue Teaming and Security Operations Center (SOC) monitoring. Specialized segments will focus on secure remote access and network segmentation, which are vital for assets located miles away from the mainland.
15:30 – 15:45: Coffee/Tea and Refreshments
15:45 – 16:15: Secure Remote Access / Network Segmentation / Link with Maritime Cybersecurity Research @Howest
Every entry point for a remote technician is a potential doorway for a cyber-attacker, so remote access should be highly secure. By implementing strict network segmentation, operators can ensure that a breach in a non-critical area does not escalate into a shutdown of the entire system.
16:15 – 16:45: Regulation and Compliance: NIS2 / CyFun
This section provides an essential update on the regulatory landscape, specifically focusing on NIS2 compliance, as well as the CyberFundamentals (CyFun) Framework and tools.
16:45 – 17:30: Discussion and Q&A
Why should you attend this afternoon seminar?
- Gain actionable insights into OT security challenges and solutions
- Learn about compliance requirements and cutting-edge research in maritime cybersecurity
Location: Howest Campus Brugge – Building A (next to the railway station)
Date: 28 January 2026 (12h30-17h30)
Language: English (or Dutch in case all participants speak Dutch)
Fee: Free (for future masterclasses in this series, we may ask a participation fee)
Register via the form at the bottom of this WCM page.
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More About this Series of Masterclasses:
World Class Maintenance (WCM), Ghent University, and Howest University of Applied Sciences are organizing a series of 8 masterclasses as part of the Interreg project Offshore For Sure. These 8 masterclasses address key topics in asset management, with a focus on the offshore wind sector.
The Offshore For Sure project is dedicated to testing and valorizing innovative offshore energy solutions. It also accelerates the regional energy transition and promotes a sustainable blue economy by developing, testing, and valorizing innovative offshore energy solutions in close collaboration between Belgian and Dutch knowledge institutions, technology developers, and civil society organisations.
The series covers Industrial/OT Security, Design for Maintenance, Digital Twins, IT Architecture, AI & Robotics, Data Analytics, Failure Analysis, and Inspection, Monitoring & Maintenance. The sessions will be held monthly from January 2026, every last Wednesday of the month, alternating between Flanders and the Netherlands.
For those looking to deepen their organisation's OT security posture beyond this introduction, we recommend the Industrial Security Masterclass, which consists of 5 modules, spread over 8 days, from February 12th, 2026 till April 2nd, 2026.
Contributors
Authors
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Patrick Van Renterghem, AI, CyberSecurity, Web3, Immersive Tech, Quantum, ... Community Builder
Want to know more about our team?
Visit the team page
Last updated on: 12/23/2025
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