Senators crave OT, ICS in President’s Cup cyber showdown

Senators Gary Peters and Mike Braun have introduced a bill to expand the scope of the President’s Cup Cybersecurity Competition. The competition, which rewards top cybersecurity professionals in the federal government, currently focuses on traditional cybersecurity skills. The new bill aims to include operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS) in the competition to better prepare cyber professionals to work with critical infrastructure sectors. The senators argue that OT and ICS are often overlooked in cybersecurity training, despite their importance in supporting critical tasks such as power distribution and water pumping. The recent Iranian-backed cyberattacks on American water utility companies further highlight the need for additional training in these areas. The bill is still awaiting the release of its text.