Resilient Cloud Control: Securing, Adapting, and Thriving

This thesis delves into integrating control systems into cloud environments, leading to the emergence of what is commonly referred to as cloud control systems (CCSs). These systems represent a paradigm shift, leveraging the cloud’s expansive storage and computing capabilities to optimize industrial operations. However, while promising in terms of efficiency and scalability, this transition introduces significant security and performance challenges. As adopting CCSs becomes more widespread across industries, addressing these vulnerabilities is crucial to prevent performance degradation and potential system failures. This work proposes comprehensive methodologies to bolster the resilience and operational efficiency of CCSs against such challenges.
In the security domain, we introduce a robust framework to bolster the systems’ defenses against potential cyber-attacks. This includes implementing advanced detection techniques and mitigation strategies, ensuring the continuous operation of CCS amidst security threats. Our approach prioritizes safeguarding operational integrity without compromising the inherent advantages of cloud integration.
Performance issues, particularly those arising from the latency in control signal execution and the geographical separation between cloud controllers and physical operations, are addressed through a novel framework. This framework is designed to compensate for these delays, enabling CCS to maintain optimal functionality and adapt to time-sensitive conditions, thereby mitigating the impact of distance and fluctuating control signals execution time.
Additionally, the dynamic nature of cloud environments, characterized by variable workloads from numerous applications, poses a challenge to traditional control methods. We propose an adaptive approach to system setup, allowing CCS to adjust operational frequencies in response to fluctuating cloud workloads. This adaptive strategy ensures that CCS remains efficient and resilient, optimizing performance in a constantly changing cloud environment.
The contributions of this thesis aim to empower industries to leverage the full potential of cloud technologies by integrating traditional control systems into the cloud seamlessly. By addressing the security and performance challenges inherent in this transition, we facilitate a more robust, efficient, and secure adoption of cloud control systems, unlocking new opportunities for innovation and operational excellence in various sectors.