Type of Culminating Activity

Graduate Student Project

Graduation Date

12-2023

Degree Title

Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience

Major Advisor

Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D.

Abstract

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) enable industrial systems and technology to work together to achieve increased connectivity and operational efficiency through the use of automation. Because automation requires less human interaction to run industrial tasks, a reliance may form on this integration to take over an otherwise manual process. This reliance can cause human behavior to affect operational safety and security, leading to unintentional outcomes or vulnerable areas of adversarial opportunity. The energy sector is one of the most critical infrastructure areas becoming a part of the rise to automation, resourcing gas, oil, and electricity to all sectors. There is an urgent need to contribute to research involving the energy sector and occurrences that may have directly resulted from automation complacency to further understand causal factors and how overreliance affects real-life outcomes. Observations of post-incident events, both adversarial and unintentional in nature were used to understand how the human element may contribute to failure or misuse when systems and processes are automated. What was found was a similarity in event outcomes regardless of whether the event was adversarial or unintentional, in relation to safety, security, and human behavior. Further analysis indicated a correlation of factors contributing to this behavior, and how each plays a role in event outcomes. These were attributed to poor system management/design and lack of training for those who monitor, manage, and provide communications in relation to the CPS. Based on similarity in outcomes and contributing factors, it was concluded that behavioral decisions seem to rest on overall trust in the system and the ability for the human element to manage it, regardless of whether it’s a manual or automated process. The results of this study can assist in arming those who are responsible for critical energy operations within their environment with an extension of awareness on how human behavior can change the outcome of an event based on the overreliance of automated processes.

Comments

(c) 2023, Shannon Olaveson. All rights reserved.

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