Securing Network Access in Wireless Sensor Networks Supporting Industrial Control System

Industrial control systems (ICSs) are crucial to the operation of the U.S. critical infrastructures, which are often highly interconnected and mutually dependent systems. With recent technological advances in wireless mesh networking technology, seamlessly integrating wireless sensors into existing plant infrastructures can enable wide monitoring and control applications, such as oil and gas, cold chain, and machine health monitoring. The flexibility and adaptability of wireless lowers the physical and cost limitations posed by wired systems. However, as ICSs are adopting IT solutions to promote corporate connectivity and remote access capabilities, and are being designed and implemented using low-cost sensor nodes, the possibility of cyber security vulnerabilities and incidents increases dramatically. In this proposal, Intelligent Automation Inc. (IAI) and Dr. Peng Ning from North Carolina State University propose a secure network access control system that ensures authorization of communications and automatic key management among micro-electronic-mechanical sensors that are deployed in industrial control systems.