Preface

Critical infrastructure systems form the backbone of modern society, supporting essential services such as energy, water, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare. These systems increasingly rely on interconnected industrial automation and control systems, blending operational technology (OT) with traditional information technology (IT). While this connectivity brings efficiency and visibility, it also introduces new risks—where cyber incidents, operational failures, and safety events can quickly cascade across systems.

Incident management in industrial control systems is no longer a niche capability or a compliance exercise. It is a core operational discipline that determines how effectively organizations respond to disruptions, protect people and the environment, and restore operations under pressure. This book focuses on building a structured, practical approach to incident management for critical infrastructure by combining an understanding of control systems, cybersecurity, emergency operations, and the Incident Command System.

Rather than treating incidents as isolated technical events, this book emphasizes coordination, communication, and preparedness across IT, OT, safety, and emergency response teams. The goal is to help organizations move from reactive responses to disciplined, repeatable incident management practices that improve resilience over time.