Defining cyber-physical systems and other connected 'things'

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are among the linchpins of critical infrastructure and Industry 4.0. These systems are defined by Gartner as “Engineered systems that orchestrate sensing, computation, control, networking, and analytics to interact with the physical world (including humans).” In other words, these are networks of smart technologies that are designed to interact with the physical world. They can be found in both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) networks.

The importance of these systems cannot be overstated, and it’s easy to see why they proliferate in nearly every business sector. Cyber-physical systems monitor environmental conditions, protect secure facilities, and allow the automation of hazardous tasks. The Mars rovers are made possible by cyber-physical systems. So is the thermostat that you control with Alexa.

If you are unsure of the differences between CPS and the Internet of Things (IoT) or Industrial Control Systems (ISC), you are not alone. Here’s a simple breakdown of some common terms and how they relate to CPS:

Predictive maintenance, remote monitoring, and supply chain optimization are made possible by the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Sensors and other ‘things’ are connected to perform an industrial function. IIoT is a subset of CPS and is narrowly defined as those systems that are used to improve industrial processes and operations.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a broad subset of CPS that refers to consumer electronics like smart appliances that are networked for convenience. IoT is a collection of everyday objects that are connected to improve daily life. IoT devices can be found in industrial environments, but they are not limited in scope like IIoT.

Operational technology (OT) includes industrial control systems (ICS), building automation systems, asset management systems, and data historian programs. CPS and OT integrate so that the data collected by OT devices can be used in more complex applications. ICS devices are a subset of OT and include programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA).

Gartner brings everything together by defining cyber-physical systems as “the technologies that underpin critical infrastructure … CPS are composed of both legacy infrastructure deployed years ago without built-in security and new assets, which are also deployed full of vulnerabilities.” Gartner also states that cyber-physical systems are “typically used in operations or mission-critical environments where value is created for organizations, so attackers are increasingly targeting them.”

Securing cyber-physical systems must be top-of-mind at all times. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Microsoft have published security frameworks and supporting documents to guide these efforts.

Barracuda secures cyber-physical systems that span rugged environments and thousands of things. Visit our website for more information on our industrial security solutions.