sesa 16(7): e5

Research Article

Assessing Security, Capacity and Reachability of a Heterogeneous Industrial Network during Planning Phase

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  • @ARTICLE{10.4108/eai.8-12-2016.151728,
        author={Apala Ray and Johan Akerberg and Mats Bj\o{}rkman and Mikael Gidlund},
        title={Assessing Security, Capacity and Reachability of a Heterogeneous Industrial Network during Planning Phase},
        journal={EAI Endorsed Transactions on Security and Safety},
        volume={3},
        number={7},
        publisher={EAI},
        journal_a={SESA},
        year={2016},
        month={12},
        keywords={Security Modeling, Network Assessment, Routing, Path Planning},
        doi={10.4108/eai.8-12-2016.151728}
    }
    
  • Apala Ray
    Johan Akerberg
    Mats Björkman
    Mikael Gidlund
    Year: 2016
    Assessing Security, Capacity and Reachability of a Heterogeneous Industrial Network during Planning Phase
    SESA
    EAI
    DOI: 10.4108/eai.8-12-2016.151728
Apala Ray1,*, Johan Akerberg1, Mats Björkman2, Mikael Gidlund3
  • 1: ABB AB; Corporate Research; Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering
  • 2: Mälardalen University, School of Innovation, Design, and Engineering
  • 3: Mid Sweden University
*Contact email: apala.ray@in.abb.com

Abstract

In an industrial plant, there is usually a mix of devices with different levels of security features and computation capabilities. If a mix of devices with various degrees of security features and capabilities communicate, the overall network dynamics with respect to security and network performance will be complex. A secure communication path with high latency and low bandwidth may not satisfy the operational requirements in a plant. Therefore, there is a need to assess the relation of security and network performance for overall plant operation. In this work we focus on identifying an optimal flow path between two devices in a multi-hop heterogeneous network. We propose a model and an algorithm to estimate and generate a network path identified by flow performance indicators of a heterogeneous communication network. Through an example, we show how the flow performance metrics change with security, capacity and reachability of the devices in the network.