scholarly journals Industrial control systems: The biggest cyber threat

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 044-046
Author(s):  
Beretas Christos P
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Security Requirements ◽  
Security Policies ◽  
Western World ◽  
Control Analysis ◽  
Industrial Control ◽  
Industrial Control Systems ◽  
Cyber Threats

Industrial control systems (ICS) are critical, as in these systems, cyber threats have the potential to affect, disorganize, change their mode of operation, act as an information extraction vehicle, and ultimately turn against itself. Creating risks to the system itself, infrastructure, downtime, leakage of sensitive data, and even loss of human life. Industrial control systems (ICS) are vital to the operation of all the modern automated infrastructure in the western world, such as power plant and power stations. Industrial control systems (ICS) differ from the traditional information systems and infrastructures of organizations and companies, a standard cyber security strategy cannot be implemented but part of it adapting to the real facts and needs of each country, legislation and infrastructure. These systems require continuous operation, reliability and rapid recovery when attacked electronically with automated control, isolation and attack management processes. Incorrect settings and lack of strategic planning can lead to unprotected operation of critical installations, as they do not meet the cyber security requirements. Industrial control systems (ICS) require special protection in their networks, as they should be considered vulnerable in all their areas, they need protection from cyber attacks against ICS, SCADA servers, workstations, PLC automations, etc. Security policies to be implemented should provide protection against cyber threats, and systems recovery without affecting the operation and reliability of operating processes. Security policies such as security assessment, smart reporting, vulnerability and threat simulation, integrity control analysis, apply security policy to shared systems, intrusion detection and prevention, and finally firewall with integrated antivirus and sandbox services should be considered essential entities.

A review of security assessment methodologies in industrial control systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qais Saif Qassim ◽  
Norziana Jamil ◽  
Maslina Daud ◽  
Ahmed Patel ◽  
Norhamadi Ja’affar
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Cyber Security ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Cyber Attacks ◽  
Security Requirements ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Industrial Control ◽  
Industrial Control Systems ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The common implementation practices of modern industrial control systems (ICS) has left a window wide open to various security vulnerabilities. As the cyber-threat landscape continues to evolve, the ICS and their underlying architecture must be protected to withstand cyber-attacks. This study aims to review several ICS security assessment methodologies to identify an appropriate vulnerability assessment method for the ICS systems that examine both critical physical and cyber systems so as to protect the national critical infrastructure. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews several ICS security assessment methodologies and explores whether the existing methodologies are indeed sufficient to meet the cyber security assessment exercise required to validate the security of electrical power control systems. Findings The study showed that most of the examined methodologies seem to concentrate on vulnerability identification and prioritisation techniques, whilst other security techniques received noticeably less attention. The study also showed that the least attention is devoted to patch management process due to the critical nature of the SCADA system. Additionally, this review portrayed that only two security assessment methodologies exhibited absolute fulfilment of all NERC-CIP security requirements, whilst the others only partially fulfilled the essential requirements. Originality/value This paper presents a review and a comparative analysis of several standard SCADA security assessment methodologies and guidelines published by internationally recognised bodies. In addition, it explores the adequacy of the existing methodologies in meeting cyber security assessment practices required for electrical power networks.

scholarly journals Analysis of Cyber Threats in the Connection Section of the Control System and Countermeasures Required

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 412-417
Author(s):  
Yangha Chun
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Information Storage ◽  
Control Network ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Industrial Control ◽  
Industrial Control Systems ◽  
Cyber Threats ◽  
Cyber Threat

In the past, the general practice for the control system network that manages and controls industrial facilities such as electric power, gas, oil, water, chemicals, automobiles, etc. was to install and operate this as an independent system, but over time the practice has gradually shifted toward the use of an open and standardized system. Until recently, most industrial control systems consisted of an independent network, and the possibility of cyber threat infringement was very low. As information storage media such as laptops or USB are connected to the control system for maintenance or management purposes, the possibility of cyber infringement is increasing. When the use of the control system's operational information increases due to beingVinked with the internal business system network or the Internet, countermeasures against external cyber threats must be provided.This paper analyzes and organizes the cyber threat factors that exist in the linking section connected to the industrial control system and other networks, examining domestic and foreign incidents of hacking of control systems to identify the vulnerabilities and security measures for each scenario in the control system network linkage section. Through this analysis, a method is suggested for establishing a control network that secures both availability and security, which are important in the control system, as well as the safe relay system in the configuration of the linkage between the control network and the business network, while addressing the vulnerabilities in the structure due to long-term use of the control system.This study analyzes cyber threat factors and real-life examples of infringements with the aim of providing approaches that will ensure industrial control systems can be operated safely and the risk of cyber hacking threats that occur in connection with other networks can be managed, and suggesting cyber security measures for the control system connection sections.

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