Technical Terms Flashcards
AMI Headend
A concentration server responsible for managing AMI communications to a defined number of meters.
Aggregates messages for a group of deployed smart meters.
Asset
Any physical or logical object used within an industrial environment possessing either an actual or perceived value.
CIP
Common Industrial Protocol. Maintained by OVDA.
Used for industrial messaging, command and control capabilities to supported devices. CIP can be transferred over TCP/IP using Ethenet/IP.
Conduit
A logical grouping of communication assets that protect the security of the communication channel. This can apply not only to network channels, but also, for example the connection of USB devices (an asset) connected to a USB port (a conduit) on a computer.
Control Center
Operations center. Typically consists of SCADA and HMI systems that provide human interaction with industrial/automated processes.
Correlated Event
Events that seem to be correlated.
Data Diode
One-way data communication device, often consisting of a physical layer unidirectional limitation.
DAM
Database Activity Monitor or Database Monitor.
Demand-Response System
A system wherein the consumer of electricity is able to interact with the grid to control how and when electricity is distributed.
Distributed Generation
Distributed energy generation facilities that are used to feed power into the grid, to facilitate localized supply in remote areas or areas with high demand.
ESP
Electronic Security Perimeter.
Refers to the demarcation point between a secured enclave, such as a control system, and a less trusted network. The ESP typically includes firewalls, IDS, IPS, industrial protocol filters, application monitors, and similar devices.
What assets could be located at the ESP?
Firewalls, IDS, IPS, industrial protocol filters, application monitors, and similar devices.
Enclave
Logical grouping of assets, systems, or services that defines and contains one (or more) functional groups.
Ethernet/IP
Ethernet/IP is a real-time Ethernet protocol supporting CIP, for use in industrial control systems.
Distribution System
The grid infrastructure responsible for delivering electricity to the end consumer, typically over lower voltages and shorter distances than the transmission system.
Fault Management System
A computing system designed to monitor and manage electrical faults, to facilitate the prediction of faults before they occur, and the location and remediation of faults that have occurred.
Examples of Field Devices
RTUs, PLCs, IEDs, recliners, PMUs, Volt/VAR units, smart meters.
GOOSE
Generic object oriented substation events.
GOOSE messages are typically transported as an Ethernet multi-case between entities within a substation so that multiple devices can subscribe to published data, typically concerning device or relay status, measurements, etc.
Identity Access Management
Refers to the process of managing user identities and user accounts; related user access and authentication activities within a network; and a category of products that automate these functions.
IED
Intelligent Electronic Device
An electronic component – such as a regulator, circuit control – that has has a microprocessor and is able to communicate, typically digitally using a fielded, real-time Ethernet, or other industrial protocol.
ICCP
Inter-control center communication protocol
A real-time industrial network protocol designed for wide area network communication between two or more control centers.
Load
A quantification, over time, of the amount of electric power delivered (supply) or required (demand).
Master Station
The controlling asset or host involved in an industrial protocol communication session. The master station, sometimes called the master terminal unit (MTU), is typically responsible for timing, synchronization, and command and control aspects of an industrial network protocol.
Modbus
A serial protocol used for intercommunication between industrial control assets. Modbus is a flexible master/slave command and control protocol.
Modbus RTU
A serial-based Modbus variant that uses binary data representations.
Modbus ASCII
A serial-based Modbus variant that uses ASCII data respresentations.
Modbus Plus
Faster. Proprietary to Schneider Electric.
Phasor Data Concentrator
Aggregates synchronized phasor measurements from multiple distributed phasor measurement units to enable analysis over line quality and condition within transmission and distribution systems.
PMU
Phasor Measurement Unit
Measures voltage and current of electricity throughout transmission and distribution systems. Synchronization of PMU measurements(i.e. “Synchrophasor Measurements”) is used to obtain an accurate image of line condition throughout the grid at any given time.
Profibus
An industrial fields protocol based on a serial-bus physical layer IEC standard. Profibus supports two application layer protocols: distributed peripheral (DP) and process automation (PA).
Profinet
An implementation of profibus over Ethernet/IP.
PLC
Industrial devices that uses a logical representation of input coils and output relays in combination with programmable logic in order to build a automated control logic.
Backchannel
A communication channel that is hidden or operates “in the background” to avoid detection.
finger
finger commands provides detailed information about a user.
