Evaluation of Visual Notations as a Basis for ICS Security Design Decisions

For making informed security decisions during the design of industrial control systems (ICS), engineers need to process large amounts security-relevant information outside their area expertise. This problem moves presentation into focus: engineering must be presented decision-makers in a way that enables them decide upon measures build defensible system. Visual representations have potential effectively convey suchlike information, thus saving engineers’ brain capacity for decision-making. However, research shows this is only realized if visualizations are carefully constructed cognitive effectiveness. As prerequisite constructing visual language future, paper explores two scientific questions: 1) what requirements visualizing make ICS design? and 2) which existing languages meet (parts of) these requirements? The evaluation reveals there an improved, specialized builds established like piping instrumentation diagrams network maps, represents all as icons achieve semantic transparency, includes filtering mechanisms reduce complexity each single diagram. finishes with defining main pillars future should allow quickly capture guide through selecting right ICS.