Sensors, or transmitters, collect data, or input, and are built into control instruments. The sensor may monitor one input point or measure over 100,000 points, such as within large refineries or utility front-end processors. The sensors convert physical parameters, such as temperature, pressure, level, flow, motor speed, valve state, or breaker position to electrical signals. […]
Monthly Archives: July 2025
ICS Components – Field Devices
Field devices are the instruments and sensors that measure process parameters and the actuators that control the process. This is the interface between the ICS and the physical process, be it the mixing of chemicals, the management of trains, or measuring of pressures in a gas pipeline.This is the point in the system where information […]
ICS Segments In-Depth
ICS Component – Relationships
Machines installed in industrial plants use a variety of field devices for control and monitoring. These devices connect to field controllers, which connect to Human Machine Interface (HMI). Notice the communication flow of the devices to each other. Copyright: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
Common ICS Components – Safety Systems
Safety systems provide protection to the process, physical equipment, or people from harmful situations that may arise during operations. It is a counter action critical in industrial operations in the case of a process goes beyond allowable control parameters.While this would result in a loss of productivity, it would spare the equipment and people harm. […]
Common ICS Components – Field Devices
The instruments and sensors that measure process parameters and the actuators that control the process. This is the interface between the ICS and the physical process, be it the mixing of chemicals, the management of trains, or measuring of pressures in a gas pipeline. This is the point in the system where information is collected […]
Common ICS Components – Field Controllers
The devices that consolidate inputs and outputs, taking the instructions from the operators to make changes in the field. Controllers can be programmed or updated in the field (remotely). These devices were designed as if they were in a “trusted” (the network map should show information about the trusted vs. un-trusted environments) environment. Therefore, when […]
Common ICS Components – Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
The user interface in a manufacturing or process control system. It provides a graphics-based visualization of an industrial control and monitoring system. Previously called an “MMI” (man-machine interface), an HMI typically resides on a computer that communicates with a specialized computer in the plant, such as a programmable automation controller (PAC), programmable logic controller (PLC) […]
Common ICS Components – Engineering Workstations
A specialized type of HMI, typically interface with the servers to modify the database or controllers to ensure the critical process runs properly. As we gain an understanding of the similarities between IT and ICS architectures, we will have greater success mapping traditional cybersecurity issues into the ICS domain. Copyright: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
Common ICS Components – Servers
Used to store configuration for the ICS and saves process data in historians for later retrieval. The servers connect to business networks to allow remote operations, configuration, or information exchanges to improve productivity. Copyright: Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency