ICS security (industrial control system security)

ICS security is the area of concern involving the safeguarding of industrial control systems, the integrated hardware and software designed to monitor and control the operation of machinery and associated devices in industrial environments.

Industrial control systems are used in machinery throughout a wide range of industries all around the world. The systems monitor, manage and administer everything from nuclear power plants and other utilities to HVAC installations, robotics and even prison cell doors.

Historically, these systems were not networked and lacked computing and communications technologies. A major focus of the burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT) – and the Industrial IoT in particular – is networking non-computing devices and making it possible for them to exchange data over the Internet. Although industrial control systems may not themselves be connected to the Internet, the human-machine interfaces (HMI) through which they are managed typically are.     

Industrial systems, including critical infrastructure, are increasingly being networked and outfitted with computing and communications technologies. The trend to IT/OT convergence means that systems used for data-centric computing -- IT systems -- are being integrated with the operational technology (OT) systems used to monitor events, processes and devices and make adjustments in enterprise and industrial operations.

Ironically, because ICS often support critical infrastructure, they cannot easily be taken down for security updates and so often remain unpatched and vulnerable. Furthermore, because the systems have very limited computing resources, they often lack the capacity to run antimalware software.