SCADA systems better referred to as industrial control systems, make life a bit easier but also could be the demolition of life as we know it. A system where a bit of convenience can cause destruction the on of the world by one simple thing happening.

Some things should be ancient

Computerization is not a good thing in all cases, especially for things that have major importance. The SCADA system is a great example of something that is computerized but shouldn’t be.  The amount of control that this system possesses but the right person hasn’t attempted to hack yet is really a doomsday waiting to happen. All it takes is for the right hacker to get into these systems and know exactly the right code to write and everyone can be poisoned whether it is through the air or water.  These systems are outdated yet modernized, it has become easier to handle with just a computer, but the system still works the same by having one output valve and one input valve. Meaning there’s only one way in and one way out for any chemicals or anything to be put in for treatment or that needs to come out.

No security

            For a system to have the such significance it barely has security measures in place for it. When this system was “updated” it was to a certain extent, it was updated to the point of making the job easier for humans to treat but not to the point of protection. The updated system made the structure able to go online but there wasn’t any security measure for example, firewalls or security policies weren’t put in place for any what-ifs that could occur. The government set the system up and just had hope that no one would notice or try hacking the systems and causing distress in the world.

All in all

            Upgrading the systems to correlate with the modern world was a good idea but there wasn’t much thought put into it making it a horrible idea. Having the systems may have made someone’s job a bit easier but it also made it easier for another country or nation to able to cause havoc with just a few simple strokes of keys on a keyboard. When taking something so ancient and making it modern, especially  if it can have a significant effect, I feel as though great planning should go into it and extra measures should be taken.

References

http://www.scadasystems.net