Cyber-Physical System Security Open Challenges in Smart Water Networks

Mahmoud, Haitham and Wu, Wenyan (2020) Cyber-Physical System Security Open Challenges in Smart Water Networks. In: 17th International Computing & Control for the Water Industry Conference, 1-4 September 2019, Exeter UK.

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Abstract

Cyber Physical Systems (CPSs) are at the core of Water 4.0. As water networks are upgraded to Smart Water Networks (SWNs), however, the number of potential entry points for malicious attackers grows. Therefore, there is a pressing need for mitigating the related risks using cyber and physical security frameworks. This pressing need is evidenced by the fact that Cyber-Physical System Security (CPSS) has attracted a lot of research attention in recent years. Examples of reported CPSs attacks are the ransomware attack in the city of Atlanta in March 2018 and the Ukraine attack in December 2015. Bearing this in mind, there are many other attacks that are expected to occur in SWNs such as compromising remote sites, hot pivots, cell-phone WIFI, Stuxnet, etc. [1]. A recent study [2] reported that, every sixty seconds, the cyber-crime costs more than $1.1 million and impacts more than 1,800 people along with affecting infrastructures and the services.
SWNs are complex systems consisting of a physical layer of reservoirs, valves, pumps and pipes, among the others. According to the SWAN forum, the other SWN layers are: 1) sensing and control, 2) collection and communication, 3) data management and display and 4) data fusion and analysis. This paper reviews the potential attacks and prevention approaches with focus on each layer of the SWN architecture. The attacks and possible countermeasures are explained and references to relevant literature that has attempted to deal with these issues are provided. Moreover, the impact of these attacks on SWNs is discussed and recommendations for security procedures to be followed by water utilities are proposed.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3661113
Dates:
DateEvent
1 May 2019Accepted
10 February 2020Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: smart water, cyber physical system, security
Subjects: CAH11 - computing > CAH11-01 - computing > CAH11-01-03 - information systems
CAH10 - engineering and technology > CAH10-01 - engineering > CAH10-01-01 - engineering (non-specific)
Divisions: Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment > School of Engineering and the Built Environment
Depositing User: Wenyan Wu
Date Deposited: 13 Aug 2019 12:58
Last Modified: 12 Jan 2022 13:01
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/7831

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