Developing a Multi-Layer Strategy for Securing Control Systems of Oil Refineries

Abstract

The energy industry and in particular the Oil Refineries are extremely important elements in Iraq’s infrastructure. A terrorist attack on one oil refinery will have a catastrophic impact on oil production and the whole economy. It can also cause serious damage to the environment and even losses of human lives. The security of information systems and industrial control systems such as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and Distributed Control System (DCS) used in the oil industry is a major part of infrastructure protection strategy. This paper describes an attempt to use several security procedures to design a secure, robust system for the SCADA and DCS systems currently in use in the North Oil Refinery in the city of Baiji located in northern Iraq.