Safeguarding Infrastructure Assets from Cyber-terrorism

Terrorist groups are currently using information and communication technologies to orchestrate their conventional attacks. More recently, terrorists have been developing a new form of cyber-capability to coordinate cyber attacks. This book explores the possibility that cyber-terrorists may have developed or may have future capabilities to attack critical infrastructure by accessing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems within Australia and throughout the world. The book characterises the Australian security and terrorism environment and discusses the vulnerability of Australian computer systems and control systems. It also discusses the cyber-capability of various terrorist groups, SCADA risk evaluation methods and presents a framework to measure and protect SCADA systems from the threat of cyber-terrorism within Australia. This framework forms the main basis of this research and is examined by three focus group interviews, signifying the need for new counter-terrorism security models to assist with assessing new cyber security threats such as cyber-terrorism. This contribution is of great value to the SCADA community and organisations.