# Industrial Control Systems

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000225244-industrial-control-systems
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [CyberSecurity Taxonomy](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000112345) › [CyberSecurity-Topics](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/62000168169)
- Last updated: 2026-05-29
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

Industrial control systems (ICSs) are systems used to monitor and control industrial processes. They can be used in a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing to energy production. ICSs are typically made up of a variety of devices, including sensors, actuators, controllers, and other types of electronic equipment.

  

ICSs refers a group of separate control systems and other gear that operate or automate industrial processes. ICSs can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, including distributed control systems, process control systems, and supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

  

There are three main types of industrial control systems: 

1\. **Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)** PLCs are computerized devices that are used to control industrial processes. They are typically used in manufacturing and process-control applications. 

2\. **Distributed Control Systems (DCSs)** DCSs are networks of computerized devices that are used to control large-scale industrial processes. They are typically used in power plants and chemical plants. 

3\. **Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems (SCADA)** SCADA systems are used to monitor and control industrial processes from a central location. They are often used in water and sewage treatment plants, and electric power grids.

  

Some of the **advantages** of industrial control systems include: 

_Increased Safety Automated systems_ can often help to improve safety by reducing the need for human intervention in potentially dangerous situations.

_Increased Productivity_ can often help to increase productivity. 

_Increased Efficiency_ can operate more efficiently than manual systems. 

_Reduced Costs_ systems can often help to reduce labor costs. 

_Improved Quality_ Automated systems can help to improve the quality of products and processes.

## Related compliance guidance

- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Configuration checks like this one are the technical half of a SOC 2 / ISO 27001 programme — the guide shows where they fit, what else an auditor expects, and how to evidence them.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): ISO 27001 Annex A.8 (technological controls) is where cloud hardening evidence lands; the guide shows how to run the ISMS around it.