Historically, nuclear power plant instrumentation and control (I&C) and information systems were deemed less vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to their isolation from external communication systems. Recent occurrences, however, including the implementation of digital control systems, past near-misses related to inadvertent connectivity between outside communication systems and plant control systems (primarily supervisory control and data acquisition systems), and increased attempts by hackers and foreign countries to breach Internet security have caused plant operators to pay closer attention to their cyber-attack readiness.
Cyber Security and Performance Improvement
As part of the integrated eB Nuclear suite of applications for the nuclear industry, eB Nuclear Cyber Security provides security standards, measures, principles, and implementation tools to prevent events caused by cyber-attacks through a defense-in-depth approach.
By collecting cyber-security-related data in all aspects of workflows, eB Nuclear provides the detailed, quality data necessary to improve cyber security compliance across the enterprise. The administration of a cyber-security program includes working with department managers to maintain a schedule of self-assessments and benchmarking efforts for the program. In execution, this involves collecting, trending, and analyzing observation, self-assessment, and benchmarking data associated with initial and periodic cyber security assessments. This is followed by performance reporting at the site, department, section, and crew levels, as well as the identification of adverse trends in cyber security at the facility.