ICS key components for safety functions

Components of ICSs comprise controllers, software applications, field devices, and communication devices. This can extend in certain environments to include mission-specific components such as telecom systems, subsea, Building Management Systems (BMSs), and Industrial IoT (IIoT). This section explains the main types of ICSs, along with other component types and their conventional purpose:

• Historian (Process Historical Archiver (PHA), historian, or logger): The historian acts as a repository for historical data gathered from intelligent devices within a control system. It can operate independently or in conjunction with an operator workstation. Usually, the PHA functions through a Windows-based PC. It offers a streamlined method for managing and retrieving transferred data and is compatible with various industrial protocols such as Modbus and Open Platform Communications (OPC), allowing for direct connections to HMIs, PLCs, and Remote...