As we announced, the Invensys Foxboro FCP270 has become the 14th device to achieve Achilles Certification. There is little question that Achilles Certification has become the de facto standard for the network robustness of industrial control devices. We are pleased with the success of the program, but we recognize that there is much room for growth.
Thus far, we have primarily certified DCS and SIS controllers. Now however, we are working on expanding our program to test other devices that comprise an industrial automation and control system (IACS). I will be writing about this expansion in the weeks to come. Let’s start off today by talking about the different components that make up an IACS. We are using ISA’s component categorization scheme (that we helped create) to separate the components of an IACS into four categories:
Embedded Device
- Definition: A special purpose device running embedded software designed to directly monitor, control or actuate an industrial process.
- Attributes: no rotating media, limited number of exposed services, programmed through an external interface, embedded OS or firmware equivalent, real-time scheduler, may have an attached control panel, may have a communications interface
- Examples: PLC, field sensor devices, SIS controller, DCS controller, Smart Meter
Host-Based Device
- Definition: A general purpose device running a general purpose operating system (eg Windows OS, Linux) capable of hosting one or more applications, data stores or functions.
- Attributes: rotating media,
- Examples: HMI Workstation, Engineering Workstation, Historian Server, Domain Controller
Network Device
- Definition: A device which moves data from one device to another, or restricts the flow of data, but does not directly interact with a control process.
- Attributes: facilitate data flow between separate devices
- Examples: Router, Switch, Firewall, Gateway, IPS, Wireless Access Point
Applications
- Definition: software programs executing on the infrastructure that are used to interface with the process
- Attributes: executable, typically execute on PC’s or embedded controllers
- Examples: HMI software, Historian Servers, PLC ladder logic
We have been working on certification standards and procedures for the three new categories: Host-Based Device, Network Device, and Application. For these additional categories, Achilles Certification will continue to signify that a device has achieved a level of network robustness, and tests will continue to be conducted with the Achilles Satellite. What will change however, are the conformance requirements, as the primary functionality of an Embedded Device (e.g. an SIS controller) is obviously different from that of a Host-Based Device (e.g. an HMI). The conformance requirements for these additional categories will be modified to reflect the primary functionalities of the device under consideration.
Today is just a first look at what is in store for our program. Keep watching this space for more developments.