SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) Systems control various industrial processes. They are both hardware and software at the same time which SCADA gathers data about equipment and other industrial processes. There are several examples of what SCADA can do, like waste management, oil and gas management, power distribution, etc. However, SCADA has one key benefit over critical infrastructure and that is its ability to avoid risks that critical infrastructure systems cannot withstand without it.
SCADA Purpose and How It Works
SCADA has one main purpose and that is to monitor, control and analyze data and various industrial equipment. With the help of sensors and PLCs (Programmable logic controllers), it can acquire data that is extremely helpful for manufacturers. This can include temperature, speed, weight, and other various factors that may affect a core component of the industrial work, especially in factories. SCADA uses data network connections and will display the data immediately to HCI (Human Computer Interface) in which an operator can look further into the data. If something is wrong, it will instead alert the HCI when a control factor is wrong or if a core process is not working anymore. (SCADA System 2021) Besides having the ability to display data, the SCADA can also control systems as well in the process. For example, if temperature was to get too high on a device, the SCADA will automatically shut it off or decrease the temperature until it can cool down enough to turn back on. (SCADA System 2021)
Critical Infrastructure System Vulnerabilities
Critical infrastructure systems like super computers and other devices can have various vulnerabilities and even some are cyber related. For example, a ransomware could easily get into a nuclear power plant if proper procedures are not in place, or maybe a worm could get into a factory’s systems that could cause machinery to overload and might even cause an accident. This is where SCADA can come into play, by shutting off these systems when detecting something is wrong and notified the operator immediately of this threat thanks to SCADA having real time data gathering (Paganini 2020) Both critical infrastructure systems and SCADA at the same time can work together to keep the factory or facility going with profits and without too much risk.
SCADA Usage Today
SCADA today has more uses now than before. in other ways besides just factories and plants. SCADA has usage in renewable energy as well and monitors windmills, solar panels and even dams. (SCADA International 2023) With the help of SCADA, all the tasks for these renewable systems of energy are much easier to respond to with data gathering and can always control if something is to mess up along with being able to control the speed of the power generation if needed. This can lead to a decrease in gathering energy or an increase.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, SCADA systems are very crucial to factories and other industrial areas. Without these systems in place, malware and other risks can easily take down systems and may even cause harm. SCADA and its ability to gather and monitor data can save lives with being able to provide information for operators to handle. With its ability to also control and manage devices and critical infrastructure, assets and devices will have greater safety help of SCADA.
Works Cited
Paganini, P. (2020, June 15). SCADA & Security of critical infrastructures. SCADA & security of critical infrastructures [updated 2020]. https://resources.infosecinstitute.com/topics/scada-ics-security/scada-security-of-critical-infrastructures/#:~:text=Industrial%20control%20systems%20(ICS)%20and,industrial%20facilities%20and%20critical%20infrastructure. Accessed November 5th, 2023.
Scadapedia. (2023, October 9). What is SCADA? SCADA International. https://scada-international.com/what-is-scada/#:~:text=Supervisory%20Control%20and%20Data%20Acquisition,data%20from%20the%20industrial%20equipment. Accessed November 5th, 2023.
SCADA system: What is it and how it works. PLC Technician. (2021, November 18). https://www.plctechnician.com/news-blog/scada-system-what-it-and-how-it-works#:~:text=SCADA%20systems%20acquire%20data%20from,and%20make%20decisions%20as%20required. Accessed November 5th, 2023.