Armond
October 31, 2021
SCADA Systems
In this essay, the conversation will be based on the vulnerabilities associated with critical infrastructure systems, and how SCADA applications play in mitigating these risks. SCADA systems are centralized systems that control and monitor an entire site, or they are complex, dispersed systems that perform nearly all their control actions automatically through the use of programmable logic controllers. In general, the host control functions are restricted to supervisory level intervention or basic overriding. For example, the PLC controls the flow of cooling water, and the SCADA system allows any changes related to alarm conditions and set points. This is for the flow to be displayed properly.
In order to help these risks of the vulnerable systems, SCADA is linked to human machine interface. Human machine interface is an apparatus that gives the processed data to the human operator. A human operator uses HMI to control processes. HMIs are linked to the SCADA system’s databases in order to provide diagnostics, management information, and trending data, such as detailed schematics for certain machines or sensors, maintenance procedures, and troubleshooting guides. An HMI package is a drawing program that is used by maintenance personnel or operators to change the representation of the points in the SCADA interface.
These representations can be as simple as on-screen traffic light that represents the state of the actual traffic light in the area, or complex, like the multi-projector display that represents the position of all the trains on railway or elevators in skyscraper. SCADA systems are commonly used in alarm systems. The alarm has only two digital status points with values ALARM or NORMAL. When the requirements of the Alarm are met, the activation will start. For example, when the fuel tank of a car is empty, the alarm is activated and the light signal is on. To alert the SCADA operators and managers, text messages and emails are sent along with alarm activation.
Your Bibliography: Google Docs. 2021. SCADA Systems. [online] Available at: <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DvxnWUSLe27H5u8A6yyIS9Qz7BVt_8p2WeNHctGVboY/edit#> [Accessed 1 November 2021].