SCADA and The Risks It Can Help Wash Away
BLUF:
SCADA applications play a pivotal role in mitigating the risks of vulnerabilities associated with
critical infrastructure in a variety of ways.
Introduction
SCADA systems are absolutely crucial components and aspects of critical infrastructure.
So much so, that they cover various zones like transportation, energy, manufacturing and last but
not least, water supply. SCADA not only covers these zones, but they also monitor and manage
industrial processes as well. With that being said, like all things in the world, they also have
vulnerabilities that can raise cause for concern when it comes to potential risks to critical
infrastructure.
The Vulnerabilities
Like most apps and sites in this heavily online era, one of the vulnerabilities that are
associated with critical infrastructure systems are cybersecurity threats. Critical infrastructure
systems are mostly connected over networks, which makes them vulnerable to all types and
forms of cyberattacks. Why would one want to potentially hack a critical infrastructure system
one might ask. Well, if they target these systems, they can easily disrupt operations, and steal
important data, etc. Another vulnerability I believe can be a worry is how close and
interconnected these sectors are. An exposure in one system can potentially easily surge into
another system due to the interconnectedness of the whole network and all of the networks are
intertwined with one another. Another potential vulnerability is human error. Employee training
is so pivotal in terms of keeping everything up and running in a reasonable fashion, so the lack of
thereof can be extremely detrimental, which is why it can also contribute to being one of the
vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure systems.
SCADA Applications Mitigating These Risks
SCADA systems most of the time have network segmentation, which can and will help
isolate the critical infrastructure networks from the less secured networks. Network segmentation
is a very effective way in reinforcing your cybersecurity. Therefore, this could help reduce the
risks of cyber attacks and unauthorized access into the systems. Another way SCADA mitigates
these risks is that “hardware is ruggedized, to withstand temperature, voltage, and vibration
extremes, and reliability is increased, in many critical installations, by including communications
channels and redundant hardware. A part that is failing can be identified and the functionality is
taken over automatically through backup hardware. It can be replaced without any interruption of
the process.” (SCADA Systems 2024) this not only mitigates the risks of damaged hardware, but
it also helps prevent the risk of losing lives due to faulty control system failures. Lastly, SCADA
training is very pivotal from what I’ve read from various sites. There is so much training sources
for the employees and so many courses and procedures they must go through, so I believe this
also helps mitigate the vulnerabilities associated with critical infrastructure systems.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there may be some vulnerabilities associated with critical infrastructure
systems that may raise some eyebrows, but SCADA applications help play a role in mitigating
those risks. SCADA systems are absolutely essential in helping monitor and controlling the
industrial zones and their processes. Although SCADA systems may have a few problems of
their own, they’re vital in helping keep everything up and running in the best way possible.