Ah yes, the “Us vs Them” perennial smack down. This ranks right up there with Mac vs Windows. It’s a nothing argument. As an example I prefer Mac. There are others who swear on a stack that Windows XP is (insert deity)’s gift to the masses. There is nothing to be gained in argument such as this.
Now, the reason I touch on the “Us vs Them” is that there is a growing dust up between the IT security wonks and the SCADA wonks. The basis for this? Simple. Whose is longer. It’s silly. There is a comment thread that brings this into sharp detail over on ControlGlobal.com. Dale Peterson weighs in on the side of IT Security
Where we differ is I don’t see a lot of pretenders coming from the IT side out there spreading FUD, and would rather encourage the people trying to cross over and help in control systems rather than say you don’t get it. Stay out. We need their skills.
I have some old school SCADA folks who have been dismissive towards this scribbler. Well, I have my C.V.
Walt Boyes responds to Dale,
There are lots of people crossing over from IT security into plant cybersecurity– and I’ve attended enough conferences and spent enough time talking to them and I can flatly tell you that most of them not only do not understand plant security BUT THEY ALSO DO NOT WANT TO LEARN.
Now, I would disagree on this point but, rather than weigh in I would direct folks to check out this interesting thread.
[tags]SCADA, SCADA Security, Us vs Them[/tags]