Master’s in OT Cybersecurity for Off-Highway Materials & Processes
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in OT Cybersecurity for Off-Highway Materials & Processes: 12 modules covering mobile machinery OT architecture, threats, TARA, regulation, in-vehicle network security, plant security, secure development, OT penetration testing, incident response, cybersecurity management and the connected factory, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in OT Cybersecurity for Off-Highway Materials & Processes — studying from the United States
Off-road and specialty vehicle engineering is a strong part of American manufacturing, with heavy equipment and agricultural machinery produced across Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and North Carolina. Companies such as Caterpillar, Deere & Company and Oshkosh Corporation design construction, agricultural, mining and specialty vehicles. Engineers focus on hydraulics, powertrains, operator ergonomics and durability under demanding conditions. Compliance with emissions and safety standards shapes much of the design process.
Fees for the United States: US$4,630 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US bodies are relevant to off-road and special vehicle engineering?
SAE International is central, publishing off-road and heavy machinery standards. Machinery safety is addressed by OSHA, and emissions by the EPA. Professional PE licensure is granted by state boards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited, so recognition for particular roles is decided by employers or the relevant body.
Where do off-road and special vehicle engineers work in the United States?
Employers include agricultural, construction, and mining equipment manufacturers, defense and specialty vehicle builders, and off-road accessory companies. Roles include design, testing, and drivetrain engineering. Employers evaluate applied skill and experience, so use your final project to show practical competence to hiring managers.
How flexible is the programme for working professionals in the US?
The programmes are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Workloads are 300, 800, or 1,900 hours depending on the programme type, so plan your time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so ask your employer early.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the electronic and communications architecture of off-highway machinery.
Identify threats and attack vectors against OT systems and vehicles.
Carry out TARA risk analyses in line with ISO/SAE 21434 and IEC 62443.
Apply European cybersecurity regulation to machinery and products.
Design countermeasures for in-vehicle networks and industrial plants.
Run controlled security tests and document the findings.
Manage incidents and vulnerabilities throughout the life cycle.
Who it's for
- OT cybersecurity engineers.
- Connected vehicle security specialists.
- Cybersecurity risk analysts.
- IEC 62443 auditors.
- Industrial systems penetration testers.
- Product PSIRT managers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter construction machinery.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62443 (industrial automation and control systems security)
- ISO/SAE 21434 (road vehicle cybersecurity engineering)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- UNECE Regulation R155 (vehicle cybersecurity management system)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act)
- Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2)
- NIST SP 800-82 (guide to OT security)
- ISO 25119 (functional safety of agricultural and forestry tractors and machinery)
- Wireshark
- Vector CANoe
- Nmap
- Zeek
- Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool
12 modules
1.1Electronic control units in off-highway machinery1.2CAN networks and the SAE J1939 protocol1.3ISOBUS ISO 11783 in agricultural machinery1.4Industrial Ethernet and telematics gateways1.5Production controllers: PLC and SCADA1.6Differences between IT and operational technology1.7Life cycle of the connected machine1.8Critical assets and attack surface1.9OT asset inventory1.10Workshop: architecture map of a connected loader
2.1CAN message injection and spoofing2.2Attacks on diagnostic ports2.3Compromise of telematics and the cellular modem2.4ECU firmware tampering2.5Ransomware in manufacturing plants2.6Supply chain attacks2.7GNSS jamming and spoofing2.8Public incidents: Triton, Industroyer and others2.9The MITRE ATT&CK for ICS framework2.10Case study: attack tree for a remote control unit
3.1ISO/SAE 21434 TARA methodology3.2Identifying assets and security properties3.3Threat scenarios and attack paths3.4Attack feasibility and impact rating3.5Risk determination and treatment3.6Cybersecurity goals and concepts3.7STRIDE threat modelling3.8IEC 62443-3-2 risk assessment3.9Traceability between risks and requirements3.10Practical exercise: TARA of a telematics unit
4.1The IEC 62443 family of standards4.2UNECE Regulation R155 and its scope4.3Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/12304.4Cyber Resilience Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/28474.5The NIS2 Directive and essential entities4.6ISO 25119 and agricultural functional safety4.7The relationship between safety and security4.8CE marking and conformity assessment4.9Vulnerability notification obligations4.10Workshop: regulatory compliance matrix
5.1Network segmentation and secure gateways5.2Message authentication and SecOC5.3Intrusion detection systems on CAN5.4Encryption and key management in ECUs5.5Hardware security modules (HSM)5.6Secure boot and chain of trust5.7Secure over-the-air (OTA) updates5.8Security of UDS diagnostics5.9Security event logging5.10Lab: CAN traffic analysis with Vector CANoe
6.1The Purdue model and zones and conduits6.2Industrial firewalls and data diodes6.3Hardening PLCs and HMIs6.4Patch management in OT environments6.5Secure remote access for suppliers6.6Passive monitoring of industrial networks6.7Modbus, Profinet and OPC UA protocols6.8Backup and recovery6.9Security in welding and painting lines6.10Practical exercise: segmentation of a robotic cell
7.1IEC 62443-4-1 secure development life cycle7.2IEC 62443-4-2 component requirements7.3Secure coding in embedded systems7.4Static analysis and code review7.5Dependency management and SBOM7.6Protocol fuzz testing7.7Secrets and credentials management7.8Requirements validation and verification7.9Documentation for conformity assessment7.10Case study: secure development plan for an ECU
8.1Scope and rules of engagement8.2Reconnaissance of industrial networks8.3Safe scanning with Nmap in OT8.4Traffic analysis with Wireshark and Zeek8.5Firmware extraction and analysis8.6Testing wireless interfaces8.7Controlled exploitation on a test bench8.8Findings report and CVSS severity8.9Retesting and verification of fixes8.10Lab: test on an ECU bench
9.1Security operations centre for fleets9.2Security telemetry sources9.3Event correlation and SIEM9.4Indicators of compromise in OT9.5Incident response plan9.6Forensic analysis of ECUs and controllers9.7Containment without compromising physical safety9.8Communication with authorities and customers9.9Lessons learned and continuous improvement9.10Exercise: incident in a machinery fleet
10.1Cybersecurity management system (CSMS)10.2Organisational roles and responsibilities10.3Vulnerability management and PSIRT10.4Coordinated vulnerability disclosure10.5Supplier cybersecurity10.6Staff awareness and training10.7Maturity indicators and metrics10.8Internal and external audits10.9Post-sales cybersecurity and end of support10.10Workshop: vulnerability disclosure policy
11.1Digital twin of a production line11.2Security of MES systems11.3Integrity of recipes and process parameters11.4Traceability of parts and batches11.5Additive manufacturing and file protection11.6Collaborative robotics and tampering risks11.7Quality control with machine vision11.8Business continuity in the factory11.9Cyber insurance and risk transfer11.10Case study: protecting a machining line
12.1Selecting the system under study12.2Asset inventory and architecture12.3Threat and risk analysis12.4Defining security requirements12.5Designing countermeasures12.6Verification and test plan12.7Response and management plan12.8Regulatory compliance analysis12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
Training is 100% online on SEIUM's campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Wireshark, Vector CANoe, Nmap, Zeek and Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for the threat analysis of a telematics unit, penetration tests on ECU benches and network segmentation in manufacturing plants. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: IEC 62443, ISO/SAE 21434, Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, UNECE Regulation R155, Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 (Cyber Resilience Act), Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2), NIST SP 800-82, ISO 25119.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Wireshark, Vector CANoe, Nmap, Zeek and Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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