One button security lockdown of a process control network

Abstract

Proper function and security of a complex network for communicating data within a process control system may be manually or automatically 'locked-down' with a single command for an entire process control network or portions of the network. A user or application monitors network communication over multiple network devices. Once the network is configured and properly communicates data over the process control network, the application may lock down the network by deactivating or 'locking out' access points on the network that are open and unused or have invalid connections. Locking down the network may essentially freeze it in a properly configured and functioning state and restrict future re-configuration of the network devices or harmful communication over an open or unused access point. When locked, is a currently connected device is unplugged and a different device is plugged into the access point, the network device may refuse the connection.