Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are critical to the efficient operation of essential sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and water management. However, their increasing integration with IT systems exposes them to sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly lateral attacks targeting Programmable Log...

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Main Authors: Denis Benka, Dusan Horvath, Lukas Spendla, Gabriel Gaspar, Maximilian Stremy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IEEE 2025-01-01
Series:IEEE Access
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10843706/
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author Denis Benka
Dusan Horvath
Lukas Spendla
Gabriel Gaspar
Maximilian Stremy
author_facet Denis Benka
Dusan Horvath
Lukas Spendla
Gabriel Gaspar
Maximilian Stremy
author_sort Denis Benka
collection DOAJ
description Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are critical to the efficient operation of essential sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and water management. However, their increasing integration with IT systems exposes them to sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly lateral attacks targeting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Advanced preventive measures are necessary because, despite their significance, many ICS continue to rely on outdated technologies with few security features. This paper proposes a machine learning (ML)-based approach to anomaly detection in ICS communication networks, focusing on techniques such as 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and Isolation Forest (iForest) algorithms. We generated a dataset by capturing both normal and manipulated ICS communication patterns, including TCP/IP traffic. Simulated lateral attacks provided realistic data for training and testing the ML models. The results demonstrate that the 1D CNN model achieved the highest accuracy (0.92) and F1 score (0.91) with minimal processing time, making it ideal for real-time intrusion detection. This research highlights the potential of ML techniques to fortify ICS cybersecurity and lays the groundwork for future advancements in critical infrastructure resilience.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2169-3536
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spelling doaj-art-e3328ace136945b7b14b454496f80de92025-01-25T00:01:34ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113125021251410.1109/ACCESS.2025.353090210843706Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control SystemsDenis Benka0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7013-1546Dusan Horvath1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4138-5966Lukas Spendla2https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4564-7740Gabriel Gaspar3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2550-1675Maximilian Stremy4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2918-0714Institute of Applied Informatics, Automation and Mechatronics, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, SlovakiaAdvanced Technologies Research Institute, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, SlovakiaInstitute of Applied Informatics, Automation and Mechatronics, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, SlovakiaInstitute of Applied Informatics, Automation and Mechatronics, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, SlovakiaAdvanced Technologies Research Institute, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Trnava, SlovakiaIndustrial Control Systems (ICS) are critical to the efficient operation of essential sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and water management. However, their increasing integration with IT systems exposes them to sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly lateral attacks targeting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Advanced preventive measures are necessary because, despite their significance, many ICS continue to rely on outdated technologies with few security features. This paper proposes a machine learning (ML)-based approach to anomaly detection in ICS communication networks, focusing on techniques such as 1D Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, Support Vector Machines (SVMs), and Isolation Forest (iForest) algorithms. We generated a dataset by capturing both normal and manipulated ICS communication patterns, including TCP/IP traffic. Simulated lateral attacks provided realistic data for training and testing the ML models. The results demonstrate that the 1D CNN model achieved the highest accuracy (0.92) and F1 score (0.91) with minimal processing time, making it ideal for real-time intrusion detection. This research highlights the potential of ML techniques to fortify ICS cybersecurity and lays the groundwork for future advancements in critical infrastructure resilience.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10843706/Anomaly detectionintrusion detection systemsmachine learningthreat detectionprogrammable logic controllers
spellingShingle Denis Benka
Dusan Horvath
Lukas Spendla
Gabriel Gaspar
Maximilian Stremy
Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
IEEE Access
Anomaly detection
intrusion detection systems
machine learning
threat detection
programmable logic controllers
title Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
title_full Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
title_fullStr Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
title_full_unstemmed Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
title_short Machine Learning-Based Detection of Anomalies, Intrusions, and Threats in Industrial Control Systems
title_sort machine learning based detection of anomalies intrusions and threats in industrial control systems
topic Anomaly detection
intrusion detection systems
machine learning
threat detection
programmable logic controllers
url https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10843706/
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