IT Security for Utility Automation Systems Bernhard Deck * ABB Schweiz AG Switzerland

The influence of utility automation systems pervades many aspects of everyday life in most parts of the world. In the shape of factory and process control systems they enable high productivity in industrial production, and in the shape of electric power, gas, and water utility systems they provide the backbone of technical civilization. The sensitivity of electric power systems is very high for misleading functionality because it can turn easily into a local or mayor black out. Those mostly have impact to daily business and life. Furthermore if a blackout would be caused from an external intruder to the automation system of the utility the impact would be even bigger. This is because, as seen from outsiders, that the basic infrastructure can be damaged from externals means also from other parts of the world in a worst-case scenario.