UL’s Dr Muzaffar Rao discusses the professional diploma in OT security programme, and what motivates his research in OT and ICS cybersecurity. For Dr Muzaffar Rao, University of Limerick (UL) has been a research base for a number of years. When Rao first joined UL in 2013, he was a PhD student conducting research on reconfigurable hardware for security, specifically field programmable gate array (FPGA)‑based cryptographic systems. After his PhD, Rao began working at the university as a postdoctoral researcher with the Centre for Robotics and Intelligent Systems, a role that Rao says allowed him to further develop “expertise in hardware‑based cryptographic systems”. Fast-forward to the current day, and Rao is now an associate professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering at UL, as well as an associate investigator with Lero, the Research Ireland Centre for Software. Rao is also the course director of the professional diploma in operational technology (OT) security programme – a specialised Level 9 programme that Rao says is a “unique offering in Ireland”, as it’s dedicated specifically to OT and industrial control systems (ICS) security. The primary objective of the programme, according to Rao, is to equip professionals with the practical knowledge and specialised skills required to “securely integrate IT and OT systems while effectively managing associated cyber risks”. “Developed in close collaboration with industry partners, the course focuses on real-world operational challenges, OT-specific threats, relevant legal and regulatory frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies,” he explains. “A strong emphasis is placed on bridging workforce skills gaps to ensure graduates can protect and secure complex operational environments.” Rao tells SiliconRepublic.com that recently, the course was provided with the Airbus CyberRange, a simulation and training platform that provides “immersive, hands-on learning through realistic, scenario-based exercises that reflect real-world critical infrastructure and smart manufacturing systems”. Securing