A SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system acts as a hub for multiple sources of infrastructure data. SCADA systems can also coordinate multiple processes in real time. These processes can include things such as wastewater treatment, manufacturing, gas pipelines, or wind turbines.
Infrastructure Vulnerabilities
Critical systems face threats every day. Earlier this year a German military base was believed to have had its water supply sabotaged. It was reported that “unusual values” were detected in the water and a hole in the perimeter fencing was then discovered by guards. Not all threats to infrastructure are deliberate or malicious. Natural disasters can pose a high risk as well. Blizzards can cause plumbing systems to burst if the water inside is not well insulated to freeze. Depending on the location of the pipes the only way you might know something is wrong is when you see a much higher water bill from underground water leaks.
SCADA Problem Mitigation
SCADA systems can monitor different complex systems over a large area and provide the data in a logical and understandable format. Imagine information needed to run a bottled beverage production facility. To produce a product sensors would be needed throughout the facility to monitor temperature of liquids, amount of fluid per bottle, filtration of water, weights of additives, ect. To safely run the facility you would also need safety features to be monitored such as fire suppression systems, air quality, surveillance cameras. All of these parameters could be monitored or sometimes controlled through a SCADA system.
Conslusion
SCADA systems should be a central hub for any complex system if safety, security or quality are vital. The use cases can cover natural disasters, malicious actors, or simple monitoring and tracking of data. As SCADA systems have evolved to communicate through the WAN (Wide Area Network) protocols they have only become more useful.
References:
- Nöstlinger, N., & Lau, S. (2024, August 14). German authorities suspect water supply sabotage on military base. POLITICO. https://www.politico.eu/article/water-supply-sabotage-military-bases-germany-nato-cologne-geilenkirchen/
- SCADA systems. SCADA Systems. (n.d.). https://www.scadasystems.net/