Securing Network Access in Wireless Sensor Networks Supporting Industrial Control System

In Phase I, Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) developed and implemented a prototype secure network access system for wireless sensor networks that support industrial control systems. This system can provide node authentication, packet authentication, packet integrity, and packet confidentiality using standardized cryptosystems. We have deomonstrated the effectiveness of the system for a small wirelss sensor network with seven sensor nodes. In collaboration with our commercial partner, Emerson Process Management, we will further extend our Phase I work and integrate our system with real industrial control systems. We will add the capability of detecting the Denial of Service attacks from both external and internal malicious nodes, extend the secure access control system to large wireless mesh networks, explore channel switching techniques to mitigate the wireless interference, and develop a secure and resilient time synchronization scheme. There is a growing demand for secure and reliable wireless communication in industrial control systems, which are crucial to the operation of the U.S. critical infrastructures, such as energy, water treatment, agriculture and food, and transportation systems. Our secure and reliable wireless communications system can enhance the security and reliabilty of wireless sensor networks for industrial control applications.