Analysis of the Cybersecurity Landscape in Industrial Control Systems

This paper, accepted for future publication in a journal, provides a comprehensive overview of the cybersecurity landscape in Industrial Control Systems (ICS). It explores the unique aspects of ICS operation, including their critical role in industries like power generation and water desalination. The paper delves into the history of cyberattacks on ICS, highlighting incidents like the Aurora attack and Stuxnet, which caused significant physical damage. It examines ICS security assessment methodologies, including the use of testbeds to identify vulnerabilities. The architecture of an ICS is explained, detailing the hardware, communication protocols, and software components. The paper also discusses current trends in ICS attacks and defenses, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to protect critical infrastructure. The report also includes a discussion on vulnerability assessment, mitigation and future security robustness.