What are industrial control systems?

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are integrated hardware and software systems used to monitor and control industrial processes in sectors like manufacturing, energy, water treatment, and transportation. They include systems such as SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), DCS (Distributed Control Systems), and PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). ICS are critical for automating and ensuring the safe, efficient operation of industrial environments, often dealing with real-time data and process control. These systems are increasingly connected to corporate networks and the internet, which can introduce cybersecurity challenges. Understanding ICS is essential for professionals involved in industrial automation, engineering, and security.