Deterministic Network Switch Packet Classification for ICS Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial control systems face challenges in securing communications within deterministic networks, where malicious or invalid communication packets can disrupt operations, leading to potential adverse consequences.
Innovation Solution
A network switch is configured to enforce protocol constraints and utilize models associated with industrial processes to classify communication packets, generating control actions based on behavioral classifications, thereby ensuring secure and efficient routing of packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network switch enforces protocol constraints and uses models to classify communication packets, then the security and reliability of the deterministic network is improved, but the device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network switch is pre-configured with protocol constraints and pre-trained machine learning models before operation. This preliminary preparation allows the switch to quickly classify and enforce rules on incoming packets without performing complex real-time analysis, thus improving reliability while managing device complexity through offline preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary classification layer between packet reception and network routing. The machine learning model acts as a mediator that analyzes packet characteristics and determines appropriate routing decisions, enabling sophisticated security enforcement without requiring the core networking infrastructure to become overly complex.
2Measurement precision
If the network switch analyzes message characteristics using machine learning models, then the ability to detect malicious packets is improved, but the processing speed and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network switch applies machine learning model analysis selectively rather than to every packet. By using protocol constraint filtering as a first pass to handle routine packets quickly, the system applies the more time-consuming ML analysis only when necessary, thus maintaining high detection precision for malicious packets while minimizing overall processing time loss.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the network switch implements intelligent packet routing based on process behavioral classification, then the security against malicious packets is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: protocol constraint validation, machine learning classification, and routing decision-making. This segmentation allows each component to be independently configured, trained, and optimized, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive security against malicious packets through coordinated operation of the segments.
Data Source
AI summary
A network switch includes a first port configured for communication with a first electric device and a second port configured for communication with a second electric device in a deterministic network. The network switch includes one or more processors configured to receive at the first port a communication packet associated with the first electric device and the second electric device, determine if the communication packet satisfies a plurality of protocol constraints, and in response to the communication packet satisfying the plurality of protocol constraints, input one or more message characteristics from the communication packet into a model associated with a first industrial process. The model is configured to output a process behavioral classification based on the one or more message characteristics. The one or more processors receive a process behavioral classification for the communication packet, and selectively generate a control action for the ICS based on the process behavioral classification.