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Secure Interfacing of IT and Automation and Control Systems
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It is essential for business reasons to connect IT and ACS networks. However, these interfaces may create vulnerabilities that threaten the security and safety of production facilities.
The following MLM discusses practical ways to make and maintain secure IT to ACS interfaces:
- MLM-034-A: Cyber Secure IT-ACS Interfacing - discusses an architectural approach to creating secure "interfaces" rather than attemptng to "merge" or "integrate" IT and Industrial Automation and Control Systems. Integration can lead to cyber vulnerabilities and maintenance difficulties that can be avoided with secure, managed interfaces.
While the basic requirement is to make and maintain secure IT to ACS interfaces, other types of networks may be added including:
- Operational Technology (OT) networks that use IT network infrastructure to influence plant control (future)
- Internet of Things (IoT) networks that use Internet infrastructure and are not as rugged or secure as ACS networks
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks that use Internet infrastructure, but that are more rugged and secure than IoT networks
- Internal and external cloud networks that may be used for low security SCADA.
OT networks
- MLM-014A: ACS + IT + OT Definitions - discusses terminology and concepts for use of OT networks and devices to supplement or replace ACS networks.
- MLM-014B: ACS + IT + OT Tradeoffs - discusses use of OT networks and devices to supplement or replace ACS.
IoT and IIoT networks (future)
MLM-014C: IoT and IIoT Definitions - discusses terminology and concepts for use of IoT and IIoT networks and devices to supplement or replace ACS.
MLM-014D: IoT and IIoT Tradeoffs - discusses use of IoT and IIoT networks and devices to supplement or replace ACS.
Cloud SCADA networks (future)
MLM-014E: Cloud SCADA network Definitions - discusses terminology and concepts for use of Cloud SCADA networks to supplement or replace ACS.
MLM-014F: Cloud SCADA network Tradeoffs - discusses use of IoT and IIoT networks to supplement or replace ACS.
by Gary Rathwell
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