Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are an industrial infrastructure integral part that providing for the national good. Theses systems include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and devices such as remote telemetry units (RTU), smart meter, and intelligent field instruments including remotely programmable valves and intelligent electronic relays. ICs are administratively, technically, and functionally more complex and unique than business IT systems while sharing basic constructs with information technology (IT).
To secure these critical systems are too diffuse and do not specifically target the unique ICS aspects. The following recommendations provide steps to improve the reliability and security of the very critical systems:
• Need to develop a clear understanding of ICS cyber security.
• Need to define cyber threats in the broadest possible terms.
• To develop best practices and security technologies for the field devices.
• Develop the curricula of academic in ICS cyber security.
• Leverage best practices and appropriate IT technologies for securing workstations.
• Establish standard certification metrics for ICS systems, processes, personnel and cyber security.
• Establish, support and promote an open demonstration facility dedicated to best practices for ICS systems.
• Change the manufacturing culture in critical industries so that security is considered as important as safety and performance.