Data Diode Context Publishing for Secure Plant Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Securing communications between process control systems in industrial plants is challenging due to the risk of cyber intrusions and malicious attacks, especially when these systems are interconnected with external networks, which can lead to equipment damage, product loss, and even human safety risks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a data diode that prevents two-way communications between the field gateway and the edge gateway, allowing only unidirectional data flow from the process plant to the remote system, while using encryption and secure protocols like HART-IP or JSON formats to secure data transmission across the diode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two-way communications are implemented between process control systems and external networks, then data accessibility and functionality are improved, but security risks and vulnerability to cyber attacks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into unidirectional data flow paths using data diodes. Process control data flows outward to external networks through approved channels, while incoming data is blocked at the data diode boundary. This segmentation allows external network functionality while preventing cyber attacks from propagating into the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
A data diode acts as an intermediary device between the process control system and external networks. It mediates data transmission by allowing only unidirectional flow from the control system to external networks, blocking any return traffic. This intermediary enables data accessibility while eliminating the security risk of bidirectional communication.
2Reliability
If data diodes are implemented to prevent two-way communications, then security against cyber intrusions is improved, but system complexity and communication limitations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data diode provides self-service security by its inherent unidirectional physical design. It automatically prevents incoming data without requiring complex authentication protocols, firewalls, or intrusion detection systems. The security function is built into the physical architecture, simplifying the overall security implementation despite the unidirectional constraint.
3Reliability
If unidirectional data flow is enforced through data diodes, then prevention of unauthorized data ingress is improved, but bidirectional communication capabilities are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing bidirectional communication and trying to filter harmful data, the system inverts the approach by allowing only outward data flow and blocking all incoming traffic at the data diode. This inversion simplifies security while maintaining essential communication functionality for process control data transmission to external networks.
Data Source
AI summary
To secure communications from a process plant across a unidirectional data diode to a remote system, a sending device at the plant end publishes data across the diode to a receiving device at the remote end. The publication of various data is respectively in accordance with context information (e.g., identification of data sources, respective expected rate of data generation/arrival, etc.) that is descriptive of data sources of the plant and that is recurrently provided by the sending device across the diode. A recurrence interval may be based on a tolerance for lost data or another characteristic of an application, service, or consumer of data at the remote system. The publishing may leverage an industrial communication protocol (e.g., HART-IP) and/or a suitable general-purpose communication protocol (e.g., JSON).