Question

What communication advances have led Cybersecurity to be a greater concern to modern SCADA/ICS systems? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

Modern SCADA/ICS system is which is based of cloud storage, open system accessible by everyone is possible with the help of modern day internet. If we consider few decades back, process control at that time was used by a plant to operate different sensors and process which was not accessible to other person, therefore there was no security issues at that time. Due to intense market competition and industry started opting efficient control system that can manage system automatically. Process control such as power grid network, manufacturing industry, hazardous chemical infustry, due to availability of content online, some ill minded people started using technology to hack system, which is cyber crime. A successful attack have many serious issue, shutting down of manufacturing unit, damaging of chemical industry equipment which is dangerous to people residing near industry.

Cyber security is very important aspect if we consider modern day process control as day by day new and strong cyber threats, creating problem for process control. Recently few months back, due to ransomware attack many process industries were shut down, in 2005 US car manufacturers unit was closed due to cyber attack which delays there consignment, and faced heavy loss. Data leaking, hacking are nowadays common things, and as different process are online, then hacking of these process control is possible. Communication advances such as fast internet, cloud storage etc is big achievement for industrial process control but same thing is threat to life of many people.