FIRST AND FOREMOST
Critical Infrastructure systems are the moving force of today’s societies,
sweeping the wide span of divisions such as energy, water supply, transportation,
and telecommunications. However, due to the importance Critical Infrastructure
systems holds on our means of daily support, it is an immediate target. Every day,
these systems are exposed to numerous amounts of vulnerabilities/risks and with the
help of SCADA systems, it can be saved.

Vulnerabilities

Critical infrastructure systems play a pivotal role in the economy, but their
importance makes them susceptible to various threats. Sectors such as energy,
transportation, water supply, and communications face vulnerabilities like
cyberattacks, physical assaults, natural disasters, aging infrastructure, and
inadequate security measures. Each threat affects the system uniquely; for instance,
cyberattacks involve manipulating system operations through malware, while
physical attacks result in physical damage, impacting proper system functioning.
Human errors, whether by employees or contractors, can also pose a threat by
causing malfunctions. Despite these challenges, solutions exist for each vulnerability
and threat.

Mitigating without SCADA

When it comes to minimizing the risks of threats or vulnerabilities to critical
infrastructure, it usually involves a mix of strategies. This typically includes strategic
planning, heightened security measures, and building resilience. However, tackling
each threat or vulnerability requires a unique plan. For instance, to combat
cybersecurity attacks, implementing robust cybersecurity practices, such as firewalls,
intruder detection systems, regular software updates, and thorough employee
training, is essential. This training ensures that employees know how to respond in
case of an incident or even how to detect issues before they escalate to the point of
system shutdown.

Similarly, for enhancing physical security, measures like surveillance systems,
trained security personnel, and access controls are crucial. These steps ensure that
only authorized individuals have access to critical systems, preventing unauthorized
access. While it’s important to consider all these measures for safeguarding critical
infrastructure systems, the implementation of a system like SCADA can streamline
and simplify these efforts, minimizing the need for extensive measures.

What is SCADA

SCADA, short for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, is a system of
interconnected hardware and components designed to monitor and control
industrial processes, facilities, and infrastructures. Its application has become
widespread across various sectors, including energy, water, and transportation. The
key features of SCADA lie in its capacity to remotely control and monitor
infrastructure processes from a central location, collect real-time data, execute
control commands with field devices, and establish networking between different
SCADA components using both wireless and wired technology. SCADA systems play
a crucial role in enabling infrastructures to gain real-time control over their
processes, ensuring smooth operations and safeguarding against potential threats
or vulnerabilities. In essence, SCADA serves as a protective shield for these critical
systems (SCADA Systems, n.d.).

Mitigating with SCADA

SCADA plays a vital role in mitigating threats and vulnerabilities to critical
infrastructure systems by implementing improved cybersecurity and physical
security measures, along with disaster preparedness. To optimize its effectiveness,
it’s essential to enhance and utilize every aspect of SCADA while remaining flexible
in its application. For example, leveraging its access control capabilities calls for the
implementation of robust measures such as unique passwords, multi-factor
authentication, and two-step factor authentication, ensuring that only authorized
personnel can access the systems (SCADA Systems, n.d.).

Moreover, in terms of security monitoring, employing intruder detection and
preventative systems enhances network surveillance for suspicious activity, a
function that SCADA efficiently facilitates. While SCADA contributes significantly to
mitigating risks in critical infrastructure systems, it’s crucial to acknowledge its
inherent limitations. Nevertheless, its effectiveness outweighs the alternative of
taking no action at all (SCADA Systems, n.d.).

Conclusion

In conclusion, critical infrastructure systems face daily exposure to a range of
vulnerabilities and risks. While both solutions require improvement, SCADA systems
have demonstrated their effectiveness in mitigating these issues. Although the field
is evolving and improvements are needed, SCADA stands as a reliable and secure
solution for the present.

References
SCADA systems. (n.d.). Google Docs.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DvxnWUSLe27H5u8A6yyIS9Qz7BVt_8p
2WeNHctGVboY/edit