Industrial Control System (ICS)

Industrial/ICS 🏭 Difficulty: premium

Definition

An Industrial Control System (ICS) monitors and controls physical processes (like power, water, and manufacturing) using devices such as PLCs, RTUs, HMIs, and supervisory systems (SCADA/DCS).

Examples

  • A water treatment plant uses sensors and PLCs to regulate chemical dosing and pump speeds.
  • An electric substation uses RTUs to open/close breakers and report status to a SCADA control center.

Discover 🔎

Industrial Control Systems connect the digital world to physical equipment. They read sensor data, make control decisions, and operate actuators to keep processes safe, efficient, and within specification. Unlike typical IT systems, ICS prioritize safety, reliability, and availability; downtime can impact human safety, the environment, and critical services.

Open the interactive lesson Browse more topics

Tip: The interactive version includes progress tracking, decks, and premium deep dives.