This blog post is about SCADA Systems explaining the vulnerabilities associated with critical infrastructure systems, and the role SCADA applications play in mitigating these risks.
SCADA System
Supervisory control and data acquisition short for SCADA is used to control the critical infrastructure such as water, waste, gas, and wind farms. SCADA also has facility-based processes like airports, ships, and stations. These systems are centralized and control and monitor entire sites. SCADA is also spread over large areas with their complex. Some examples are PLC controls the flow of cooling water. SCADA allows for any related changes to the alarm conditions and ensures everything is running smoothly. This allows plant supervisors to make critical decisions based on real-time information.
Vulnerabilities
There isn’t a system without its vulnerabilities. The HMI is a target for hackers wanting to gain access to processors and steal critical information. Mobile applications are used on tablets for employees to control the PLCs and RTUs, allowing them to connect to the ICS through the table. Having this application can allow attacks in exchange for convenience.
Mitigating Risks of SCADA Systems
Most of the vulnerabilities reported in the SCADA systems have been addressed by their respective vendors. Some organizations can use some of the following mitigation tactics to ensure that the system will function properly. First, using virtual patching allows management updates and patches. This allows you to prevent exploits when the systems cant be patched immediately. Next, applying network segmentation will prevent malware from spreading and contain attacks. Regular monitoring and seeing who has authorization to what parts of the system can reduce cyber attacks. Preventing the use of foreign and untrusted USBs can minimize the chance of a malware attack.
Conclusion
The SCADA system is very useful because it allows the organization to control industrial processes locally or from a laptop remotely. The organization can monitor data, and process it in real-time.
References
Deon, G. (2019, December 19). One flaw too many: Vulnerabilities in SCADA systems. Security News. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/vulnerabilities-and-exploits/one-flaw-too-many-vulnerabilities-in-scada-systems
SYSTEMS , S. C. A. D. A. (n.d.). SCADA systems. SCADA Systems. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from http://www.scadasystems.net/