Marquis Williams

SCADA Systems

CYSE 200

Prof Kirkpatrick

March 17, 2024

            Supervisory control and data acquisition or SCADA for short is used in the industrial control systems, (scadasystems.net). This is important as these systems operate numerous places: productions, treatment plants, airports and so on. When a SCADA is in operation it will record actions from the RTUs, remote terminal units and decide what appropriate action is best to take next. For example, if a series canal needs to be open to let ships pass, the worker will open a gate to let the water in, the actions are noted to the SCADA. The ship enters and more data will be gathered to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition to ensure timing, weight to water ratio and such. The SCADA will alert the operator that it is good for the next evolution to begin.

            Once the first compartment begins to drain water to fill the second the data will be sent to the SCADA for the operator to monitor. Alerting the worker that it is time to open the gate as water levels are near equal or are equal the SCADA will have given the signal. Now with security issues because it is on an internet-based platform. With the system having an IP and gives a large canvas for cyberattacks. This system regulates and controls many of our daily life large structures. Those damns, bridges, windmills, and police station. So going for one of these is an act of terror.

            To prevent a possible attack security measure must be put into place. It will start with a perimeter around the building and around the infrastructure, if possible, the more and more difficult layers of security as one gets closer to the SCADA system. Then once within the room with the system a code or keycard or Bioscan can be required at each use to ensure safety, 100% accuracy, no mishaps, and ensure the risk of hackers wont physically get to the system.