Avoid vulnerable distributed control system architectures
S. Cocheo · OSTI OAI (U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information) · 1983
This article presents guidelines for the design of distributed control systems and offers examples of points of vulnerability in some of today's systems. The main steps necessary in carrying out an analysis are: acquiring a thorough understanding of the process to be controlled and the goals to be achieved; understanding how computer systems function; understanding the hardware functions of each component within the distributed control system architecture; understanding the software functions operating within the hardware architecture; coordinating the needs and goals of the process, along with proper selection of hardware and software, and expressing these in suitable specifications; evaluation of vendors' proposals with the wary eye and diligence of an investigative reporter; implementation of the selected vendor's system in a properly coordinated way that meets the specified needs.