Protecting networked control systems from cyber-attack

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a software algorithm that detects and isolates cyber-attacks on networked control systems.

Networked control systems are essentially pathways that connect and coordinate activities between computers and physical devices. For example, the systems that connect temperature sensors, heating systems and user controls in modern buildings are networked control systems.

But, on a much larger scale, these systems are also becoming increasingly important to national infrastructure, such as transportation and power. And, because they often rely on wireless or Internet connections, these systems are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Flame and Stuxnet are examples of costly, high-profile attacks on networked control systems in recent years.

As networked control systems have grown increasingly large and complex, system designers have moved away from having system devices – or ‘agents’ – coordinate their activities through a single, centralized computer hub, or brain. Instead, designers have created ‘distributed network control systems’ (D-NCSs) that allow all of the system agents to work together, like a bunch of mini-brains, to coordinate their activities. This allows the systems to operate more efficiently. And now these distributed systems can also operate more securely.

NC State researchers have developed a software algorithm that can detect when an individual agent in a D-NCS has been compromised by a cyber-attack. The algorithm then isolates the compromised agent, protecting the rest of the system and allowing it to continue functioning normally. This gives D-NCSs resilience and security advantages over systems that rely on a central computer hub, because the centralized design means the entire system would be compromised if the central computer is hacked.

The protection method is described in the paper, ‘Convergence and Recovery Analysis of the Secure Distributed Control Methodology for D-NCS,’ which will be presented at the IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, May 28-31, in Taipei, Taiwan.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

•Date: 15th May 2013 • US/World •Type: Article • Topic: Critical infrastructure protection

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