Instead, opting for secure TCP/IP is recommended. This provides more protection against hackers, but security by obscurity is not a viable way to protect critical infrastructure. In the power industry, this is only present in rare cases where a dedicated communication link is used serially for security reasons.
There are, of course, some instances where serial communication is used for security. COPA-DATA’s energy grid software, zenon, for instance, meets the IEC 62351 standard for security in energy management systems and is developed using a security by design approach. When choosing technology, the energy industry involve options Virtual Private Networks, coupled with standards like the IEC 62351 series, that provide the required levels of security. When using TCP/IP protocols, the energy sector must be extra vigilant. In fact, since the infamous discovery of Stuxnet in 2010, there has been an increase in attacks on the energy sector, with attacks rising by 380 per cent between 20. While TCP/IP provides data communication for distributed assets, such as multiple substations and energy generation sites, this widespread infrastructure is at serious threat of cyber-attack. Today, hacking tools for TCP/IP related protocols are easier to find than serial protocols, so it is essential to ensure systems are secure.Ĭonsider the consequences of this risk for an energy network, for example. That being said, TCP/IP is not without its downfalls.īecause they are so widely used, TCP/IP protocols can be vulnerable to attack. This is due to its ability to control locations separated between long distances. With this in mind, TCP/IP is essential for the plethora of new current remote working situations the industry finds itself in. These protocols are commonly used for wide area communication between the substation and the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) master. In these environments, TCP/IP can help support network protocols within substations and manufacturing plants, such as DNP3 and IEC 64. TCP/IP is also widely used in industrial settings, unless the facility has opted for fast Ethernet protocols. For example, TCP/IP is used for the internet, which obviously demands fast communication speeds and flexibility in topologies. TCP/IP technologies have received much stronger development efforts than serial, due to the vast number of users currently utilising it. Unlike serial communication, if data corrupts or does not reach its destination TCP/IP defines how the missing data will be retransmitted, while controlling the flow of data to the right place. TCP/IP is responsible for managing the connection between a client and a server, making sure the data that needs to be transferred is split into several packets, which will eventually reach their destination. So, when ethernet became cheaper and new network topologies - the arrangement in which computer systems or network devices are connected to each other - were made possible, such as the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
It was not until the 1990’s that fibre optics were implemented to guarantee immunity against electromagnetic interferences, this not only prevented interruptions but helped save tons of copper that were laid in cable conduits. Every device, might it be your computer or mobile, runs on serial protocol which serves as a reliable form of communication. Generally, serial communication is a widely used method to transfer data between processing equipment and peripherals.
0 kommentar(er)
