Cyber Security of American Nuclear Facilities
Disciplines
Nuclear Engineering | Systems Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
In June 2017 the automatic radiation monitoring system at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) located in Ukraine was compromised by a worldwide cyberattack, forcing the plant workers to conduct radiation monitoring manually. The ChNPP was the site of the worst nuclear reactor disaster when Unit 4 exploded in 1986. Ukrainian authorities indicated that the monitoring system’s operating system was breached by the cyberattack. This study presents: 1) the past and current cyberattack threats and their potential consequences for stakeholders in the U.S. nuclear industry and the public, 2) systems currently in place to defend against such threats, 3) specific measures that should be considered to improve the quality of cyber defense systems, and 4) government regulations regarding cybersecurity in the nuclear industry. Analysis was conducted from a holistic, systems-thinking approach and considerations were entertained for all stakeholders, system elements, signifiers, and affordances.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Industrial and Systems Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Eduardo Farfan
Additional Faculty
Dr. Jungkyu Park, Mechanical Engineering, jpark186@kennesaw.edu Dr. Tien Mun Yee, Civil and Construction Engineering, tyee@kennesaw.edu
Cyber Security of American Nuclear Facilities
In June 2017 the automatic radiation monitoring system at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) located in Ukraine was compromised by a worldwide cyberattack, forcing the plant workers to conduct radiation monitoring manually. The ChNPP was the site of the worst nuclear reactor disaster when Unit 4 exploded in 1986. Ukrainian authorities indicated that the monitoring system’s operating system was breached by the cyberattack. This study presents: 1) the past and current cyberattack threats and their potential consequences for stakeholders in the U.S. nuclear industry and the public, 2) systems currently in place to defend against such threats, 3) specific measures that should be considered to improve the quality of cyber defense systems, and 4) government regulations regarding cybersecurity in the nuclear industry. Analysis was conducted from a holistic, systems-thinking approach and considerations were entertained for all stakeholders, system elements, signifiers, and affordances.