U.S. DHS forms new industrial cyber security group

Formation of Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group (ICSJWG) replaces Process Control System Forum (PCSF). Cyber security blog explains related topics; post a question or comment.

By Control Engineering Staff February 19, 2009

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Control Systems Security Program (CSSP) has established the Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group (ICSJWG). This group will continue the successful public and private partnerships created by the Process Control System Forum (PCSF) which was disbanded. (See related developments at Control Engineering Industrial Cyber Security blog . Also read: Cyber security issues take center stage in 2009 .)

The ICSJWG is a collaborative and coordinating body operating under the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) requirements. The ICSJWG will provide a vehicle for communicating and partnering across all Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources Sectors (CIKR) between federal agencies and departments, as well as private asset owner/operators of industrial control systems. The goal of the ICSJWG is to continue facilitating collaboration within the industrial control systems stakeholder community in securing CIKR by accelerating the design, development, and deployment of secure industrial control systems.

The ICSJWG will collaborate with various stakeholders involved in industrial control systems, including participants from the international community, government, academia, vendors, owner/operators, and systems integrators. The ICSJWG is chartered to serve as a sector sponsored joint cross-sector working group operating under the auspices and in full compliance with the requirements of the CIPAC. Stakeholders participating in the ICSJWG will have the opportunity to address efforts of mutual interest within various stakeholder communities, build upon existing efforts, reduce redundancies, and contribute to national and international CIKR security efforts.

The Control Systems Security Program will maintain the historical archives of the PCSF website to ensure continuity and will host this material in the near future. Contact the CSSP ICSJWG office at ICSJWG@dhs.gov .

Edited by Peter Welander, process industries editor Control Engineering News Desk Get free automation related newsletters from Control Engineering .