Securing the Physical-Digital Frontier: Cyber-Physical Systems in Critical Infrastructure

Description:

In an era where the integrity of critical infrastructure is increasingly intertwined with digital resilience, Securing the Physical-Digital Frontier: Cyber-Physical Systems in Critical Infrastructure offers a graduate-level exploration of the architectural, operational, and security dimensions of modern cyber-physical environments. Designed for graduate students, cybersecurity professionals, infrastructure engineers, and IT strategists, this text functions as both a technical reference and a strategic framework for understanding and securing Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) across sectors such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and public utilities. Beginning with the foundational evolution of CPS from embedded systems and control theory, the book progresses into advanced concepts including distributed control architectures, hybrid system modeling, and sector-specific implementations involving SCADA, IoT, and real-time operating systems. Security is integrated throughout the text as a core principle—highlighting threat vectors such as firmware vulnerabilities, protocol exploitation, GPS spoofing, and advanced persistent threats targeting kinetic systems. Readers examine comprehensive risk management strategies grounded in models like FMEA and Bow-Tie analysis, alongside coverage of red teaming, incident forensics, and real-time risk monitoring. Special emphasis is placed on regulatory frameworks and standards, including NIST, ISO/IEC, and sector-specific compliance such as NERC CIP and FDA cybersecurity guidelines. The final chapters address the future of CPS security with a focus on digital twins, blockchain for device integrity, AI-driven anomaly detection, and quantum-era cryptographic risks—preparing readers to innovate and lead in a high-stakes, high-consequence digital-physical landscape.

Key Features:

• Foundational and advanced coverage of CPS architecture, including control theory, embedded systems, IoT integration, and system interoperability.
• In-depth analysis of sectoral CPS applications in energy, transportation, healthcare, water systems, and public infrastructure.
• Detailed threat landscape overview, including case studies on Stuxnet, Triton, and Industroyer, and vulnerability analysis across layers.
• Practical guidance on risk modeling, incident response, cyber-resilience, regulatory compliance, and secure system design.
• Forward-looking insights into emerging defenses such as AI, digital twins, Zero Trust CPS, and quantum-secure architectures.

Ideal For:
Graduate students in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, or systems engineering programs; OT/IT security professionals and industrial control specialists; academic instructors developing curriculum on cyber-physical defense; and strategic leaders seeking to build resilience across digital-physical ecosystems.

Walsh College Students: This is the required textbook for IT538: Cyber Physical Systems

ISBN-13: 979-8-9988425-4-2

Format: E-Book