According to the SCADA Systems article, SCADA stands for “supervisory control and data acquisition”. “SCADA is used to control infrastructure processes such as water treatment, wastewater treatment, gas pipelines, wind farms, and more. They also work on facility based processes such as at airports, space stations, and ships or industrial processes like production, manufacturing, refining, and power generation” (SCADA Article). In today’s society, infrastructure systems such as water treatment, power grids, and transportation networks heavily rely on SCADA systems for monitoring and control. Although SCADA systems are important for making sure of efficiency and safety, they are also faced with many vulnerabilities that can potentially threaten stability and security of these services.
Critical infrastructure systems are very important for everyday life as it provides essential needs such as fresh water, energy, and transportation. However, these systems are becoming more vulnerable to attacks as technology grows. One of the biggest risks they face is cyberattacks. These networks are increasingly targeted by hackers looking to steal some type of information or even currency. With these threats increasing daily, the importance of securing SCADA systems and protecting the infrastructure they control has never been more critical. Without proper security measures in place, the consequences of an attack could be devastating, affecting millions of people and causing long-lasting damage to public services.
In order to control these risks, SCADA operators are using advanced security measures. Using secure communication protocols like “IEC 61850” and “DNP3”will ultimately help with preventing unauthorized access. Additionally, using VPNs, firewalls, and multi-layered security systems makes sure that only authorized users can control or monitor the system. The use of backups in SCADA systems helps maintain system operations during failures. Backup power supplies, secondary communication, and fail over systems ensure that if one part of the system goes down, another can successfully take over without negatively affecting the overall process. This level of resilience is key to making certain that critical infrastructure continues to function even under unusual conditions.
In conclusion, while SCADA systems are essential for the smooth operation of critical infrastructure, they must be constantly protected from any growing cyber threats. The modern technology’s broadness leads to SCADA systems facing more vulnerabilities, but by implementing strong security measures, ensuring system backups, and staying proactive with updates, they can safeguard these services that society depends on.



Citations
• SCADA Systems Article (http://www.scadasystems.net)
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (2022). Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection. DHS.
• Cybersecurity: Homeland security. U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). https://www.dhs.gov/topics/cybersecurity