Industrial Asset Control Under Cyber-Attack Signal Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial assets, particularly those in renewable energy sectors like wind turbines, face challenges in detecting and mitigating the impacts of cyber-attacks, which can lead to suboptimal operations, increased wear, and potential damage due to corrupted sensor and actuator signals.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates a cyber-attack model to predict operational impacts and corresponding mitigation responses, using a neutralization module to detect attacks and select appropriate responses, such as filtering affected signals and emulating nominal operating states, to alter the industrial asset's operating state and mitigate cyber-attack effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional control systems are used without cyber-attack detection capabilities, then device complexity is low, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to detect and mitigate cyber-attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The system generates a cyber-attack model in advance that predicts operational impacts and mitigation responses before actual attacks occur. The model is trained with historical attack data and normal operation patterns, enabling the system to prepare defense strategies proactively rather than reacting after detection
Solution Approach 2:
The neutralization module continuously monitors sensor and actuator signals, compares them against the cyber-attack model predictions, and implements mitigation responses based on detected anomalies. This closed-loop feedback mechanism dynamically adjusts control actions to counteract identified cyber-attack patterns
2Reliability
If cyber-attack detection and neutralization systems are implemented, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases due to additional models and modules
Solution Approach 1:
The cyber-attack model serves multiple functions: it predicts operational impacts of various attack types, generates corresponding mitigation responses, and provides a framework for the neutralization module to detect and respond to different attack patterns. This multi-functional approach consolidates security capabilities within a unified model structure
Solution Approach 2:
The neutralization module acts as an intermediary layer between the existing control system and potential cyber-attacks. It intercepts sensor and actuator signals, processes them through the cyber-attack model, and implements mitigation responses without requiring fundamental changes to the underlying control architecture, thus managing complexity through modular integration
3Productivity
If corrupted sensor and actuator signals are utilized, then productivity is maintained, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to cyber-attack impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The neutralization module extracts and identifies corrupted signals from the sensor and actuator data streams by comparing actual signals against predictions from the cyber-attack model. Once corrupted signals are extracted and identified, they are isolated from the control system to prevent their harmful effects while maintaining control of unaffected signals
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the presence of cyber-attacks as a trigger to activate mitigation responses that ultimately protect the industrial asset. The harmful cyber-attack signals are converted into beneficial information that activates the neutralization module's defense mechanisms, transforming the attack's presence into an opportunity for protective action
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for the control of an industrial asset, such as a power generating asset. Accordingly, a cyber-attack model predicts a plurality of operational impacts on the industrial asset resulting from a plurality of potential cyber-attacks. The cyber-attack model also predicts a corresponding plurality of potential mitigation responses. In operation, a cyber-attack impacting at least one component of the industrial asset is detected via the cyber-attack neutralization module and a protected operational impact of the cyber-attack is identified based on the cyber-attack model. The cyber-attack neutralization module selects at least one mitigation response of the plurality of mitigation responses based on the predicted operational impact and an operating state of the industrial asset is altered based on the selected mitigation response.