Solana Networks to Develop SCADA Cyber Security Monitoring Tools

Solana Networks has been awarded a Public Safety Canada contract to develop and deliver cyber security monitoring tools for SCADA networks.

Modern society depends on the continuous and uninterrupted operation of critical infrastructures, ranging from the electrical power grid, to Oil and Gas pipelines, and water and wastewater treatment facilities.  These systems serve as the backbone of much of Canada's critical infrastructure.  Today, these vital systems are operated by very complex and sophisticated engineering software systems known as Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.  From a central control room, operators can remotely monitor and control these vital infrastructures.  They can increase the pressure in pipelines by closing valves or decrease the electric load on the power grid by opening and closing breakers, with just the click of a mouse.  There is a growing evidence that cyber threat actors are targeting SCADA systems and are installing backdoors, which could be used to disrupt or destroy vital infrastructures. 

As part of the project, Solana Networks will be developing enhanced capabilities for an open-source Intrusion Detection System (IDS). New module(s) will be developed for the IDS to allow detection of cyber attacks based on custom PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) protocols. In addition, Solana Networks will develop and deliver an anomaly-detection based network security monitoring tool.