A hybrid cyber defense framework for reconnaissance attack in industrial control systems

Abstract

The convergence of information technology (IT) and operation technology (OT) has made Industrial Control Systems (ICS) a popular target for cyberattacks in recent years. Unlike traditional networks, enhancing availability is the ICS network's top priority rather than confidentiality in the CIA scheme. We propose a bio-inspired adaptive defense framework based on dissimilar redundancy, diversity, and adaptive defense strategies to achieve this aim. The proposed mechanism mixed optimal network shuffling and cyber deception techniques to maximise the time attackers spend on the decoys. Besides, to provide an extra layer of protection for system availability, we introduce dual heterogeneous subnets in the proposed framework that could be regenerated once compromised. We evaluate the performance of the proposed defense framework in a typical industrial manufacturing network using an SDN-based platform and test the defense framework in various scenarios. Compared with previous research, the simulation shows a considerable improvement in defense performance in the adaptive defense mode.