How Do Industrial Control Systems Work

An industrial control system (ICS) is a type of computer system that is used to monitor and control industrial processes and infrastructure. These systems are used in a variety of industries, such as oil and gas, chemical, water and wastewater, energy, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, automotive, and more. ICSs have become increasingly complex and powerful in recent years. This article will explore the different types of ICSs, the components of an ICS environment, the most common threats associated with ICSs, and how to keep them secure. SCADA systems are commonly used in the pipeline monitoring and control, water treatment and distribution, and power transmission and distribution sectors. They are not able to provide full control, but they make up for this with their ability to provide control at the supervisory level. SCADA systems are made up of components that are dispersed over different locations, most commonly Programmable Logic Controllers or other commercial hardware modules. These systems can acquire and transmit data, and they are integrated with a Human Machine Interface which provides centralized monitoring and control for a variety of process inputs and outputs. SCADA is mostly used for remote monitoring and management of field sites via a centralized control system. DCS systems are used to control production systems that are found in one location. They are most commonly used in the manufacturing industry, oil refineries, electric power generation, and water and wastewater treatment. In a DCS, a setpoint is communicated to the controller, which can then tell valves or actuators to operate in a way that will maintain the intended setpoint. Data collected in the field can be archived for future use, utilized for straightforward process control, or even combined with data from other parts of the plant to create sophisticated control plans. It is also common for an ICS environment to be a hybrid of DCS and SCADA, with attributes from both systems. Components of an ICS environment include Programmable Logic Controllers, IT and OT, Remote Terminal Units, Control Loops, Control Servers, Human Machine Interfaces, SCADA Servers or Master Terminal Units, Intelligent Electronic Devices, and Data Historians. Common threats to ICSs include attacks that leverage the entry point provided by the ICS to gain access to the system and laterally migrate into the company. To protect against these threats, businesses should implement a patch management solution like Heimdal®s Patch & Asset Management. This solution is automated and can patch any Microsoft and Linux OS, third-party, or proprietary software. ICSs provide a comprehensive solution to the challenges of monitoring and controlling operations in an industrial setting. With the right knowledge and security solutions, businesses can ensure that their ICSs are secure and operate efficiently.

This Cyber News was published on heimdalsecurity.com. Publication date: Thu, 09 Feb 2023 09:21:03 +0000


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