SCADA Security: Why is it so hard?

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Presented at Security B-Sides Iowa 2012 by

This talk will present technical security challenges faced by organizations that have SCADA, critical infrastructure or control systems installations. It will provide examples of attacks and examples of security controls for the same. The talk will introduce an open-source tool to help identify and inventory SCADA systems. The presentation will begin by introducing SCADA systems under the hood including RTU, IED, PLC, FEP, PCS, DCS, HMI, sensors, data historians and other SCADA components. The presenter will categories these components into distinct groups based on the functionality that each component provides. The presenter will review the security implications on each of these groups and identify where most of the threats lie. The presentation will take a packet level dive into SCADA protocols like MODBUS and DNP3 and study their security implications. The presentation will give example of attacks that can be carried out against each group and component. The presenter will release an updated version of an open-source tool to identify and inventory SCADA systems using the protocols discussed in this presentation. The presenter will then focus on real world examples of successful and not-so-successful implementations of security controls with SCADA systems. This will include examples of what some large organizations have done, and a discussion about why SCADA security cannot be deciphered just by tools or technical solution. The presentation will conclude with guidance on how control system owners can start implementing additional measures to get to an acceptable security. Attendees who are in charge of control system infrastructure will get insight on what worked and what did not for other organizations. Engineers who are in-charge of security for control systems will get a better technical insight of SCADA protocols and components and can use the open source tool that is introduced. Attendees who are new to control systems will get an excellent overview of security complexities of control systems.