Historically, the water utility control systems were not designed with security in mind, and while this alone doesn’t make them vulnerable, considerations must be made when you’re digitizing an existing system with older applications and tools.
Increasingly, there are threats around the critical control systems, especially those that control water flows, so treatment works and dams come to mind immediately as security and safety threats.
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Increased dependency on automation
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Risk of technical failures (no sensor works 24/7 & 365 days/year…)
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Easier escalation from a single unit failure to system collapse
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Do they make our operators less knowledgeable on processes?
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Increased vulnerability of process stability
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Increased risk of cascading effects between critical infrastructure (e.g. water and energy)
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Causes
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System failures
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Natural phenomena
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Human errors
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Malicious actions – cyber attacks
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Third-party failures