ISA-IEC-62443 Exam Results

Asymmetric (public) key algorithms are a type of cryptographic algorithms that require more than one key. Asymmetric key algorithms use a pair of keys, one for encryption and one for decryption, that are mathematically related but not identical1. The encryption key is usually made public, while the decryption key is kept private. This allows anyone to encrypt a message using the public key, but only the intendedrecipient can decrypt it using the private key1. Asymmetric key algorithms are also known as public key algorithms or public key cryptography1. Asymmetric key algorithms are used for various purposes, such as digital signatures, key exchange, and encryption2. Some examples of asymmetric key algorithms are RSA, Diffie-Hellman, ElGamal, and Elliptic Curve Cryptography2.

References: Asymmetric Algorithm or Public Key Cryptography - IBM, Cryptography 101: Key Principles, Major Types, Use Cases & Algorithms | Splunk.

RS232 is a physical layer standard for serial communication between two or more devices. It defines the electrical characteristics, timing, and pinout of connectors for serial data transmission. RS232 is widely used in industrial communication devices, such as PLCs, measuring instruments, and network servers. RS232 allows only one master and one slave to communicate on each line, and operates in a full duplex mode. RS232 haslower transmission speed, shorter maximum cable length, and larger voltage swing than later standards such as RS422 and RS485123

References: 1: Basics of RS232, RS422, and RS485 Serial Communication 2: RS-232 - Wikipedia 3: RS232 Serial Communication Protocol: Basics, Working & Specifications

According to the ISA/IEC 62443-2-1 standard, security policy, organization, and awareness is one of the four foundational requirements for an IACS security management system. It defines the “policies, procedures, and organizational structure necessary to support the security program” 1. One of the elements of this requirement is staff training and security awareness, which involves “providing appropriate security education and training to all personnel who have access to or are responsible for IACS components” 1. This element aims to ensure that the staff are aware of the security risks, policies, and procedures, and are able to perform their roles and responsibilities in a secure manner. Staff training and security awareness can include topics such as security principles, threats and vulnerabilities, incident response, password management, physical security, and social engineering 2. References:

• ISA/IEC 62443 Series of Standards - ISA
• Security of Industrial Automation and Control Systems - ISAGCA

 According to the IEC 62443 standard, a capability security level (SL-C) is defined as “the security level that a component or system is capable of meeting when it is properly configured and protected by an appropriate set of security countermeasures” 1. A component or system can have different SL-Cs for different security requirements, depending on its design and implementation. The SL-C is determined by testing the component or system against a set of security test cases that correspond to the security requirements. The SL-C is not dependent on the actual operational environment orconfiguration of the component or system, but rather on its inherent capabilities. References:

• IEC 62443 - Wikipedia