On this page, I am going to discuss SCADA Systems, explaining the vulnerabilities associated with SCADA systems and the critical infrastructure systems. I also will discuss how the SCADA applications play a role in these risks.

The vulnerabilities associated with critical infrastructure systems

There are many vulnerabilities associated with critical systems and infrastructures that happen daily. The main concern and vulnerability is the locations and the access points of the infrastructure. For example,Poor or unsecured passwords, lack of multi-factor authentication, unmonitored access points increase the vulnerability and with the advancement of technology, most infrastructure systems can be accessed from other places for certain reasons such as monitoring and control. However, if remote access points are weak, they may provide an avenue for an attacker to break through. Also like I mentioned before with the locations, some of the infrastructure systems are exposed to environmental threats such as extreme weather that might cause damage to the physical equipment. Natural disasters can make services non-operational and develop vulnerabilities which the attacker can use to his advantage. Also to note SCADA systems are vulnerable to unauthorized access to software that allows intentional changes, virus infections, or other malicious actions to control hosts. This vulnerability provides attackers with the capability for manipulation in critical systems and disruption of processes.

The role SCADA applications play in mitigating these risk

SCADA systems also protect a great deal of critical infrastructure, including power grids and water supplies. These systems continually monitor and send notification on any unusual occurrences that may happen within those systems, thereby allowing operators to take quick action regarding any problems. The second is by the detection of unsafe conditions; SCADA systems can automatically shut down or adjust equipment in order to prevent such human errors. Because it logs all activities in minute detail, in the event of something going wrong, teams can always go back and understand where the problem occurred and how security could be improved. SCADA systems have often been set up to have backup setups that ensure that in the event of main system failure, there would still be something to keep things running smoothly. They even monitor who can access what, ensuring that only those who are legitimate to affect changes in the system are able to do so. This keeps at bay unauthorized access or insider threats. SCADA allows operators to obtain a global view of the entire system by centralizing control. This ensures that problems are quickly identified and fixed. By and large, SCADA systems add an additional level of security, allowing the critical infrastructure to be much safer and more reliable