What is SCADA?

While SCADA is a vital system to protect as it protects critical infrastructures, it also has many vulnerabilities that can have devastating consequences if not protected. SCADA combines hardware and software that uses supervision and control of organizations like manufacturing plants, oil and gas plants, energy plants, and water and waste plants. This system allows control of plants both locally and remotely, as the system examines, collects, and processes data in real-time.

Vulnerabilities in Critical Infrastructures

As SCADA is hardware and software, risks can be physically connected to the cyber world. In cybersecurity, many risks can occur to any company or device. Some of these risks include hacking, malware, and human error.

• Hackers are always a big vulnerability when it comes to systems that operate online, and since SCADA uses machines like HMIs, also known as human-machine interfaces, some of these risks are greater. HMIs “give processed data to the human operator” and, if left vulnerable, could cause mass damage to their systems (SCADA systems).
• If the hackers are successful, they can introduce malware into systems like viruses and leave a back door open for additional entry later, compromising all systems affected.
• Other vulnerabilities include human error. SCADA uses hardware for its on-site activities. Devices like sensors and control panels could be incorrectly set up or tempered with malicious intent.

SCADA Applications for Mitigating Risks

First, risks like viruses and malware, unauthorized access to systems, and human error are key and main risks to SCADA: such risks damage businesses and companies associated with all and any successful attacks.

• Ways to mitigate against viruses/ malware are applications like IDS (intrusion detection systems), software updates, and firewalls; these applications can warn you about fishy activity, block access to unknown users, and keep operating systems up to date with the correct software needed. – –
• Mitigating against unauthorized access to systems using technology like authorization, access control, and securing physical access to systems. Companies must control who can access the systems and what they can access when they do. Physical access to building’s hosting systems that require protection against human interference is critical as if anyone could access it, more damage could be imposed.
• Mitigating human error is vital to a proper company function. Having employees appropriately trained to handle, maintain, and set up the systems causes less human error. Also, training in correct policies and compliance helps deter systems from being incorrectly set up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, SCADA systems are vital for managing and controlling critical infrastructures in manufacturing, energy, and water treatment plants. Using not one but as many mitigations as a company can decrease successful attacks against companies/ businesses, ensuring the safety of the infrastructure managed by SCADA. Having multi-layers to protect against technical and physical safeguards can reduce risks to SCADA systems. By applying these mitigation strategies, companies can boost security, reduce vulnerabilities, and ensure the reliability and safety of critical infrastructures.

References:
Siggins, M. (2020, May 28). Where can vulnerabilities be found in SCADA systems? DPS
Telecom. https://www.dpstele.com/blog/where-can-vulnerabilities-be-found-in-scada
systems.php
The Claroty Team. (2024, February 21). Scada Risk Management: Protecting Critical
Infrastructure. Claroty. https://claroty.com/blog/scada-risk-management-protecting-critical
infrastructure
Citations:
SCADA systems. SCADA Systems. (n.d.). https://www.scadasystems.net/