The application of data diodes for securely connecting nuclear power plant safety systems to the corporate it network

The complexity and frequency of cyber attacks against plant control systems is rising, as is the corporate demand for realtime access to plant control system data. When implemented correctly data diodes claim to provide the means to deliver real-time plant data to the corporate IT network and provide a barrier impervious to network based attacks. EDF Energy is exploring data diode technology and the available implementations as a potential means of providing corporate users with real-time plant data without exposing critical safety systems to an unacceptable level of risk from cyber attack. (6 pages)