Direct local access, Overview, Devices – BECKHOFF IPC-Security User Manual

Page 10: Software components, Potential threat scenarios

3. Direct Local Access

3.1. Overview

This chapter deals with the scenario that a cyber criminalhas direct, local access to the industrial controller.
The term “direct local access” means that the attacker can physically “grasp” the computer and interact
with it via attached input devices, e.g. mouse and/or keyboard. A regrettably common scenario would be
a machine hall in which the industrial controller is simply located on a desk instead of a locked cabinet and
therefore in an exposed location. A potential cyber criminal can then interact with the device via its keyboard
and/or mouse, attach USB sticks or even damage the device.

3.1.1. Devices

The following table provides an overview about common devices that play an important part in this scenario.

Device