Which type of controller is typically used for high-speed, discrete control of a single machine or process, and is known for its fast scan times and ladder logic programming?

PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)

PAC (Programmable Automation Controller)

DCS (Distributed Control System)

What is the function of a variable frequency drive (VFD) in an industrial process?

To display process data to the operator

To measure the speed of a motor

To convert a physical measurement into an electrical signal

To control the speed and torque of an electric motor

A technician is troubleshooting a motor control circuit. The motor is supposed to start when a limit switch is closed, but it does not start. The technician measures voltage at the motor starter coil and finds 0 V. What is the most likely cause?

The motor starter contacts are welded shut.

The limit switch is not closing or the wiring to the coil is broken.

An oil pipeline company is designing a new SCADA system to connect remote pumping stations to a central control center. Each station has a PLC that must report status and accept setpoints. The communication links are low-bandwidth and occasionally unreliable. Which protocol is most appropriate for this remote telemetry application?

Modbus RTU over serial or TCP/IP

A company is designing a new ICS network and wants to follow the Purdue model. They need to allow engineers to access HMIs from the corporate network for troubleshooting. What is the recommended approach?

Use a serial console server to access HMIs.

Place a jump host in the DMZ and require engineers to RDP to it before accessing HMIs.

Install a VPN client on each HMI.

Open a direct firewall rule from the corporate network to the HMI subnet.

GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional

Domain 1Objective 1

ICS Components & Architecture GICSP Practice Questions (Page 1)

Part of the ICS Fundamentals and Architecture domain, which makes up ~40% of our current practice bank. GIAC (SANS) does not publish an official question count, but from its 180-minute exam (~70–120 total, ~28–48 in this domain), expect 7–12 from this objective — we provide 53 practice questions to prepare you well beyond it. (estimate)

53questions here

11free pages

10concepts

Questions 1–5

1foundation · easy
Which type of controller is typically used for high-speed, discrete control of a single machine or process, and is known for its fast scan times and ladder logic programming?
Select an answer first
2foundation · easy
What is the function of a variable frequency drive (VFD) in an industrial process?
Select an answer first
3application · medium
A technician is troubleshooting a motor control circuit. The motor is supposed to start when a limit switch is closed, but it does not start. The technician measures voltage at the motor starter coil and finds 0 V. What is the most likely cause?
Select an answer first
4application · medium
An oil pipeline company is designing a new SCADA system to connect remote pumping stations to a central control center. Each station has a PLC that must report status and accept setpoints. The communication links are low-bandwidth and occasionally unreliable. Which protocol is most appropriate for this remote telemetry application?
Select an answer first
5application · medium
A company is designing a new ICS network and wants to follow the Purdue model. They need to allow engineers to access HMIs from the corporate network for troubleshooting. What is the recommended approach?
Select an answer first

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