Repository logo
 

Methodology to enhance security of water utility system through RTU hardening

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDavies, Augustus William, author
dc.contributor.authorChandrasekhar, V., advisor
dc.contributor.authorDubow, Joel, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBorky, John, committee member
dc.contributor.authorWeinberger, Christopher, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-30T10:22:42Z
dc.date.available2022-05-30T10:22:42Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.description.abstractWater utility security is becoming a focus of critical infrastructure security. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the White House recently launched a cyber security plan for the water sector [1]. "Cyberattacks represent an increasing threat to water systems and thereby the safety and security of our communities," said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. "As cyber-threats become more sophisticated, we need a more coordinated and modernized approach to protecting the water systems that support access to clean and safe water in America. EPA is committed to working with our federal partners and using our authorities to support the water sector in detecting, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents." [1]. Yet it is not just cyberattacks. As demonstrated in this dissertation, water utilities are vulnerable to physical and human attacks. The water utility subsystem, in direct contrast with sensors and actuators that monitor, meter, and treat water and wastewater, is the RTUs (Remote Telemetry Unit). This subsystem controls the engineering devices, meters, and control systems the water utility uses to supply water and treat wastewater. These devices are distributed within the area served by the Utility. The RTU aggregates data from the Utility operational subsystems assigned to it and transmits it to the Main Telemetry Unit (MTU) and from there to the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. A typical Metropolitan water utility has around 100 RTU, 2 MTU, and 1 SCADA. Preventing and reducing the impacts of exploits of RTU vulnerabilities are the focus of this study. To attain this goal, a design methodology was created that resulted in a hardened RTU that was constrained to be used within existing water utilities. The performance of the enhanced RTU was compared to the existing standard RTU under normal operating conditions and an attack. The results show the value of the enhanced RTU. The enhanced RTU responded faster, restored operations faster, and prevented physical and cyber-attacks.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierDAVIES_colostate_0053A_17102.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/235311
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectRTU hardening
dc.subjectSCADA
dc.subjectwater utility system
dc.subjectRTU vulnerabilities
dc.subjectRTU enhancement
dc.subjectwater security
dc.titleMethodology to enhance security of water utility system through RTU hardening
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineSystems Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
DAVIES_colostate_0053A_17102.pdf
Size:
3.95 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

2020-
Theses and Dissertations