Software-Defined Networking approaches for intrusion response in Industrial Control Systems: A survey

Abstract

Industrial Control Systems (ICSs) are a key technology for life-sustainability, social development and economic progress used in a wide range of industrial solutions, including Critical Infrastructures (CIs), becoming the primary target for multiple security attacks. With the increase of personalized and sophisticated attacks, the need for new tailored ICS cybersecurity mechanisms has increased exponentially, complying with specific ICS requirements that Information Technology (IT) security systems fail to meet. In this survey, a comprehensive study of ICS intrusion response is conducted, focusing on the use of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) for the development of intrusion response strategies in ICS. With its centralized control plane, increased programmability and global view of the entire network, SDN enables the development of intrusion response solutions that provide a coordinated response to mitigate attacks. Through the survey, an analysis of ICS security requirements and the applicability of SDN is conducted, identifying the advantages and disadvantages compared to traditional networking and protocols. Furthermore, a taxonomy on intrusion response strategies is presented, where different proposals are discussed and categorised according to intrusion response strategy and deployment environment characteristics. Finally, future research directions and challenges are identified.