ICS Components

Question 1

This is often defined as the master or heart of a SCADA system and is located at the operator’s central control facility. This unit initiates virtually all communication with remote sites and interfaces with an operator.

Answer 1

Master Terminal Unit (MTU)

Question 2

What are the two types of transmission in a Master Terminal Unit?

Answer 2

Response to poll

Report by exception

Question 3

The communications hardware allows the transfer of information and data back and forth between the MTU and what two components?

Answer 3

Remote Terminal Unit

Programmable Logic Control

Question 4

These are logic level control devices used to relegate applications demanding high-current and/or high voltage switching logically as the name implies.

Answer 4

Programmable Logic Control

Question 5

These have a user programmable memory for storing instructions for the purpose of implementing specific functions such as I/O control, logic, timing, counting, three mode proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control, communications, arithmetic, data, and file processing.

Answer 5

Programmable Logic Control

Question 6

Simply Put, in this control the output does not directly affect the input.

Answer 6

Open loop control

Question 7

Simply Put, in this control the output is used to effect a change on the input. This is the most prevalent in industry, it’s what turns process control into automation

Answer 7

Closed loop control

Question 8

What are the three types of close loop communications?

Answer 8

Mechanical linkages
Pneumatic Signals
Hardwired Electrical Signals

Question 9

This controller’s job is to maintain the output at a predetermined level so that there is no difference between the process variable and the set point.

Answer 9

Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) Controller.

Question 10

This is the main driving force behind a controller. It makes changes to the output in proportion to the error. If the error is larger, the correction is larger.

Answer 10

Proportional Controller

Question 11

This controller considers the history of the error. It accomplishes this goal by automatically shifting the proportioning band over time.

Answer 11

Integral Control.

Question 12

This type of control produces an output based on the rate of change of the error. It is also sometimes called Rate. This is rarely used in controlling processes, but is often used in motion control.

Answer 12

Derivative Control

Question 13

What do you call an error that means that measured position is exactly where you want it to be which means the system meets all of your requirements.

Answer 13

Zero Error

Question 14

This unit is a special purpose data acquisition and control unit designed to support SCADA remote stations. These are field devices often equipped with wireless radio interfaces to support remote situations where wire based communications are unavailable.

Answer 14

Remote Terminal Unit (Remote ThisTelemetry Unit)

Question 15

This device is a “smart” sensor/actuator containing the intelligence required to acquire data, communicate to other devices, and perform local processing and control.

Answer 15

Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED)

Question 16

This software and hardware server allows human operators to monitor the state of a process under control, modify control settings to change the control objective, and manually override automatic control operations in the event of an emergency.

Answer 16

Human Machine Interface (HMI)

Question 17

This is a centralized database for logging all process information within an ICS. Information stored in this database can be accessed to support various analysis, from statistical process control to enterprise level planning.

Answer 17

Data Historian

Question 18

What are 5 network components?

Answer 18

Field bus Network
Control Layer 2/3 devices
Firewall
Modems
Remote Access Points

Question 19

This links sensor and other devices to a PLC or other controller. The use of this eliminates the need for point to point wiring between the controller and each device.

Answer 19

Field bus Network

Question 20

This connects the supervisory control level to lower-level control modules

Answer 20

Control Network

Question 21

These types of devices (ex: Routers, Switches), communicate messages between two networks. It utilizes the LAN and WAN networks.

Answer 21

Layer 2/3 devices

Question 22

This system protects devices on a network by monitoring and controlling communications packets using predefined filtering policies.

Answer 22

Firewalls

Question 23

This is a device used to convert between serial digital data and a signal suitable for transmission over a telephone line to allow devices to communicate. These are often used in SCADA systems to enable long-distance serial communications between MTUs and remote field devices.

Answer 23

Modems

Question 24

These are distinct devices, areas and locations of a control network for remotely configuring control systems and accessing medium used.

Answer 24

Remote Access Points