Accidents and natural disasters involving nuclear power plants such as Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and the recent meltdown at Fukushima are rare, but their effects are devastating enough to warrant increased vigilance in addressing safety concerns. Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control Systems for Safety and Security evaluates the risks inherent to nuclear power and methods of preventing accidents through computer control systems and other such emerging technologies. Students and scholars as well as operators and designers will find useful insight into the latest security technologies with the potential to make the future of nuclear energy clean, safe, and reliable.

Computer security as a discipline is challenged by increasing threat vectors targeting a dynamic technological environment. This publication establishes guidance addressing the challenge of applying computer security measures to instrumentation and control (I&C) systems at nuclear facilities. The measures are intended to protect these I&C systems throughout their entire lifecycles against malicious acts perpetrated by threat actors. The technical basis and methodologies for the application of these computer security measures are considered. The publication also addresses the application of such measures to the development, simulation and maintenance environments of the I&C systems. In addition, account is taken of developments in the human factors engineering and nuclear safety. This Technical Guidance references and takes into account other Safety Guides and IAQEA Nuclear Security Series publications that provide guidance relating to I&C design.

Computer security is increasingly recognized as a key component in nuclear security. This publication outlines a methodology for conducting computer security assessments at nuclear facilities. The methodology can likewise be easily adapted to provide assessments at facilities with other radioactive materials.

The purpose of this publication is to assist member states in developing comprehensive contingency plans for computer security incidents with the potential to impact nuclear security and/or nuclear safety. It provides an outline and recommendations for establishing a computer security incident response capability as part of a computer security programme.

Safety and security are crucial to the operations of nuclear power plants, but cyber threats to these facilities are increasing significantly. Instrumentation and control systems, which play a vital role in the prevention of these incidents, have seen major design modifications with the implementation of digital technologies. Advanced computing systems are assisting in the protection and safety of nuclear power plants; however, significant research on these computational methods is deficient. Cyber Security and Safety of Nuclear Power Plant Instrumentation and Control Systems is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the digital developments of instrumentation and control systems for assuring the safety and security of nuclear power plants. While highlighting topics such as accident monitoring systems, classification measures, and UAV fleets, this publication explores individual cases of security breaches as well as future methods of practice. This book is ideally designed for engineers, industry specialists, researchers, policymakers, scientists, academicians, practitioners, and students involved in the development and operation of instrumentation and control systems for nuclear power plants, chemical and petrochemical industries, transport, and medical equipment.

The transition to digital technology has changed the nature of instrumentation and control (l&C) systems by enabling extensive interconnection of reprogrammable, functionally interdependent I&C systems. This development has made computer security a necessary element for consideration in I&C system design. The benefits and challenges of the various computer security methods and controls with their implementation in nuclear power plant I&C systems are discussed and described in this publication. The publication provides an overview of current knowledge, up to date good practices, experience, and benefits and challenges related to the application of computer security measures. The publication defines the key concepts for computer security for I&C systems at nuclear facilities, explains the risk informed approach to computer security and describes how computer security measures are applied throughout the l&C system life cycle. Situations where I&C systems are interconnected with enterprise management systems are also addressed. The three appendices present case studies with practical application examples.

This report provides practical guidance on the methods available for verification of the software and validation of computer based systems in nuclear power plants, and on how and when these methods can be effectively applied. It will be of particular interest to all those involved in the development, implementation, maintenance and use of software and computer based instrumentation and control systems in nuclear power plants.