Title: DNS as critical infrastructure, the energy system case study

Authors: Emiliano Casalicchio; Marco Caselli; Alessio Coletta; Igor Nai Fovino

Addresses: Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science, Univ. of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via Orazio Raimondo, 18 - 00173 Rome, Italy ' Global Cyber Security Centre, Viale Europa, 175, 00144 Rome, Italy ' Global Cyber Security Centre, Viale Europa, 175, 00144 Rome, Italy ' Global Cyber Security Centre, Viale Europa, 175, 00144 Rome, Italy

Abstract: Modern critical infrastructures (e.g., power plants, energy grids, oil pipelines, etc.), make nowadays extensive use of information and communication technologies (ICT). As a direct consequence their exposure to cyber-attacks is becoming a matter of public security. In this paper, we analyse a particular infrastructure, rarely considered as source of threats, on which indeed the majority of network based services rely: the domain name system. Taking as example the power system, we show how deeply a failure (accidental or malicious) of the DNS might impact on the operation of the modern and distributed critical infrastructure.

Keywords: domain name system; DNS failure; public security; power systems; critical infrastructures; energy systems; information and communications technology; information technology; ICT; cyber-attacks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCIS.2013.051605

International Journal of Critical Infrastructures, 2013 Vol.9 No.1/2, pp.111 - 129

Published online: 28 Apr 2014 *

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