NIST Industrial Control Security Testbed

This photo shows the water distribution system of the NIST Industrial Control Security Testbed. The testbed is being used as a platform for developing performance metrics and tests that industry can use to mitigate potential problems encountered during the deployment of security software and hardware in industrial control system environments. This laboratory scale water distribution system, designed to resemble a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is comprised of three Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), controlling a tank level via a pumping system and an ultrasonic level transmitter. The center PLC serves as the Master Terminal Unit (MTU), a supervisor, and communicates with the two other PLCs that serve as the Remote Terminal Units (RTUs), field subordinates to the supervisor. The MTU supplies water from its tank to meet the demands of the two RTU controlled tanks. The RTUs recycle water back to a main reservoir to simulate user demand.

Intelligent Systems Division