Power grids, gas plants, conveyor belts, and other operations in manufacturing and industrial processes run on ICS networks. These networks are mission-critical, supporting the nation and its population. The first week of April 2022 was a wake-up call to India. According to international reports, PLA hackers made unsuccessful attempts to penetrate networks at SLDCs (State Load Dispatch Centers) located in and around Ladakh. Targeting the power grid could hamper national security, and the strategic geographical location echoes the same. It is not the case for India alone; instead, every nation – irrespective of geopolitical and economic strength, is facing the threat of an ICS network intrusion.
Some decades-old systems and controls on ICS networks increase the likelihood of intrusion. Failure to secure such mission control infrastructure can put a nation’s national security in the hands of bad actors. Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the security posture of such critical infrastructure is of significance as we embrace future technologies like 6G towards remote processing and control in real-time.
What are OT and ICS Security?
The terminology can be confusing, given…
