Cyber-Physical Systems Security Education through Hands-on Lab Exercises

Cyber–physical systems (CPSs), due to interacting directly with the physical environment, must be dependable, and in particular must be secure. This article shows how to integrate systems security topics into the educational program for future CPS engineers. The integration of CPS into critical infrastructure has reduced the isolation of physical systems and increased their connectivity to the outside world. Education in CPS security needs to serve two vital but sometimes contradictory interests. It must introduce students to the body of scholarship and theory, giving them the understanding they need to build on existing work and make their own contributions. At the same time, it is undeniable that most students will seek jobs in industry, and it is the duty of educators to inculcate practical skills and hands-on research habits.