Mission critical infrastructure is just as vulnerable to cyber-attacks as normal
infrastructure. This is why Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are also
vulnerable to attacks. The article states “In numerous cases, there remains less or no security on
actual packet control protocol” (SCADA Systems p. 6). This represents a very big problem as
most of the systems are barebones for efficiency’s sake which is not bad for effective work but is
terrible for security. What needs to be improved upon is the security systems implemented to
defend the infrastructures data. A current lack of security systems could result in a disaster or a
fatal strike to a state’s infrastructure.
Another problem with SCADA systems is not only a cyber-attack but an in-person
security threat. Someone who gains access to the controls who should not have access. Say a
repair man is not there to fix the systems but also gather data and plant a virus into the system.
This also asks for the need for physical security as well as it doesn’t matter if you have the best
virtual security in the world if someone can walk into the building and gain access it doesn’t
matter.
With all that being said SCADA is not a useless system by any means. SCADA systems
are great at being redundant for repairs. The networks are segmented off so you can quarantine
an area if need be. The systems are essentially composed of building blocks that can be hot
swapped in and out of one another depending on the jobs needed to be done at the time. Over all
the SCADA system is a great foundation for infrastructure systems but can be improved upon in
future iterations.

References
SCADA Systems http://www.scadasystems.net.