Internet Based Secure Monitoring and Control for Utility Companies and Process Plants

Abstract

SwpemsoirJ Control an d D ata Acquisition (SCADA) networks are used by m any o f the utility com panies that form the
critical infrastructure in m any countries to control fie ld devices from a central station. In recent years, SCADA networks
have also enjoyed an increase in popularity within process control industries fo r m onitoring an d control. The use o f the
Internet can facilitate the rem ote m onitoring o f the SCADA systems bu t with the sharp increase in actu al an d potential
threats against SCADA has m ade it dangerous to use the unsecured com m unication protocols. This p ap er presents a
secure architecture to access SCADA-controlled devices remotely using the Internet. Using this architecture, SCADA
engineers can get the current process inform ation an d send the control d ata to a rem ote plan t through their web browser
securely. This Internet-based approach has been im plem ented an d tested fo r rem ote m onitoring an d control o f a
chem ical-process test-bed.