A technician is troubleshooting a flow control loop where the control valve is not responding to changes in the controller output. The controller shows a valid measurement and the output is changing. Which field device is most likely the cause of the problem?

The positioner on the control valve

The controller's analog output module

A chemical plant has a critical batch reactor controlled by a PLC. The plant wants to ensure that a single PLC failure does not stop production. What is the most effective redundancy strategy?

Use a redundant PLC pair with automatic failover and synchronized programs.

Keep a spare PLC on the shelf and manually swap it when a failure occurs.

Use a single PLC with a UPS and redundant power supply.

Connect the PLC to a second HMI.

A remote oil well site has no local operator and limited power. The site uses a PLC to control a pump based on tank level. The communication link to the central control room is unreliable. Which controller type is most appropriate for this site?

A remote terminal unit (RTU) with local logic and battery backup.

A single-loop controller with no communication capability.

A programmable logic controller (PLC) with a large I/O capacity.

A distributed control system (DCS) controller with redundant I/O.

A technician is asked to identify the components of a control loop in a packaging line. The line uses a photoelectric sensor to detect bottles, a PLC to count them, and a pneumatic cylinder to push full boxes. Which of the following correctly lists the roles?

Sensor: PLC; Controller: photoelectric; Actuator: pneumatic cylinder.

Sensor: photoelectric; Controller: PLC; Actuator: pneumatic cylinder.

Sensor: pneumatic cylinder; Controller: photoelectric; Actuator: PLC.

Sensor: photoelectric; Controller: pneumatic cylinder; Actuator: PLC.

GIAC Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional

Domain 1Objective 1

ICS Components & Architecture GICSP Practice Questions (Page 2)

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 6–10

6application · medium
A technician is troubleshooting a flow control loop where the control valve is not responding to changes in the controller output. The controller shows a valid measurement and the output is changing. Which field device is most likely the cause of the problem?
Select an answer first
7application · medium
A chemical plant has a critical batch reactor controlled by a PLC. The plant wants to ensure that a single PLC failure does not stop production. What is the most effective redundancy strategy?
Select an answer first
8application · easy
A technician is calibrating a pressure transmitter that sends a 4-20 mA signal to a PLC. At 0 psi, the transmitter outputs 4 mA; at 100 psi, it outputs 20 mA. The PLC reads 12 mA. What pressure is the transmitter measuring?
Select an answer first
9expert · hard
A remote oil well site has no local operator and limited power. The site uses a PLC to control a pump based on tank level. The communication link to the central control room is unreliable. Which controller type is most appropriate for this site?
Select an answer first
10application · easy
A technician is asked to identify the components of a control loop in a packaging line. The line uses a photoelectric sensor to detect bottles, a PLC to count them, and a pneumatic cylinder to push full boxes. Which of the following correctly lists the roles?
Select an answer first

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