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Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems

Much attention relating to cyber security is focussed on the digital aspects of cyber systems; all data tends to be represented as pure, abstract, ones and zeros. In reality, all these abstract ones and zeros need a physical representation in order to have an effect. That physical representation might be as electromagnetic radiation, travelling through space as a radio wave, it might be as electric charge in an electronic device or it could take a range of other forms. Control systems gather information from a range of physical sensors (flow rate sensors, temperature gauges, accelerometers etc); after processing, they generate outputs which in turn produce physical effects via actuators (switches, motors, displays etc). Much attention relating to communication in the cyber domain is focussed around the Internet. A range of other communication protocols and technologies are widely deployed in industrial control, vehicle and other systems. Understanding the significant characteristics of the physical manifestations of digital information, understanding the interconnectedness of the cyber domain with the physical domain via sensors and actuators, and understanding non- Internet technologies and protocols reduces the risk of inadvertently leaving a cyber system in a vulnerable position. The overall aim of this module is to enable the cyber security specialist to have a meaningful conversation with practising engineers concerning the security of cyber-physical systems.

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