Essential Tools of the Trade

Explore software and hardware tools for industrial control systems and cybersecurity professionals.

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Essential Hardware Tools

Explore top hardware tools for industrial control and cybersecurity needs.

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Software Tools
24vdc powersupply24vdc powersupply

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Explore essential tools for industrial control and cybersecurity professionals (Amazon Affiliate Links)

USB to RS422 RS485 Serial Port Converter USB to RS422 RS485 Serial Port Converter
4 to 20 mA generator4 to 20 mA generator
multimeter setmultimeter set
 high voltage screwdriver set high voltage screwdriver set
solenoid rotation testersolenoid rotation tester

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Some of these are specific for lab environment use, for instance you probably don't want to use a MEAN WELL power supply in a production control cabinet. But they are super handy to have in your lab to powerup HMIs, PFCs, and other equipment

Mean Well Power 24VDC Supply

BeagleBone Rev C

RS485 to USB Converter

4-20 mA Generator

Multi-meter

Insulated Screwdriver Set

Rotation Tester

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Tools Showcase Hub

Explore essential software and hardware tools for industrial control systems and cybersecurity professionals.

Industry Software Tools

Explore essential software tools for Controls Engineers with a Cybersecurity twist!

ModScan is a powerful tool for testing and troubleshooting Modbus communication. It allows engineers to poll data from Modbus devices and analyze responses, making it invaluable for verifying communication integrity in industrial networks.

An open-source Modbus slave simulator that enables users to emulate a Modbus device. It’s useful for testing master devices and developing Modbus-based applications without requiring physical hardware.

A lightweight and free Modbus master simulator that supports RTU and TCP/IP communication.

A go-to network scanning tool for cybersecurity professionals. It helps identify open ports, detect active devices, and perform vulnerability assessments in industrial networks. Download my nmap cheat sheet here.

Angry IP Scanner

A fast and lightweight network scanner that allows engineers to quickly discover devices on an ICS network. This is especially helpful for mapping out automation networks and identifying rogue devices. (To download I recommend using chocolatey, since angry IP page seems to have many ads, but if you rather use a link here is the link to their website)

A critical tool for analyzing network traffic in ICS environments. It allows engineers and cybersecurity professionals to inspect data packets, identify security threats, and troubleshoot network communication issues.

A few more useful tools

A must-have text editor for writing and editing PLC logic in Structured Text, scripting automation tasks, and reviewing logs. It supports various programming languages and is more efficient than standard Notepad.

A powerful IDE for developing automation scripts, writing secure code, and managing configuration files. With its extensive library of extensions, it support programming languages used in ICS, such as Structured Text, C. You can also create powerful custom tools in Python, C++, PowerShell, Linux Bash Shell.

An essential software suite for programming PLCs that support the CODESYS runtime. CODESYS is free to download and it provides a full IEC 61131-3 development environment, making it a valuable tool for controls engineers working with various automation hardware, and also to simply start learning the IEC 61131-3 development languages and sharpening your programming skills.

A useful tool for creating and writing disk images. This is helpful for burning SD cards and other memory devices with device firmware to assist in updating and maintaining ICS controllers.