BS EN IEC 62859:2020 - Nuclear Power Plants: Instrumentation and Control Systems

Requirements for Coordinating Safety and Cybersecurity

In the ever-evolving landscape of nuclear power, ensuring the safety and security of nuclear power plants is of paramount importance. The BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard provides a comprehensive framework for coordinating safety and cybersecurity in nuclear power plants, specifically focusing on instrumentation and control systems. Released on September 15, 2020, this standard is an essential resource for professionals in the nuclear industry.

Key Features of BS EN IEC 62859:2020

• Standard Number: BS EN IEC 62859:2020
• Pages: 30
• Release Date: 2020-09-15
• ISBN: 978 0 539 15329 3
• Status: Standard

This standard is meticulously crafted to address the dual challenges of safety and cybersecurity in nuclear power plants. It provides guidelines and requirements that help in the seamless integration of safety measures with cybersecurity protocols, ensuring that both aspects are harmoniously aligned to protect critical infrastructure.

Why is BS EN IEC 62859:2020 Essential?

Nuclear power plants are complex systems that require robust safety and security measures. The BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard is crucial because it:

• Enhances Safety: By providing a structured approach to safety management, this standard helps in minimizing risks associated with nuclear power plant operations.
• Strengthens Cybersecurity: In an age where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, this standard offers a framework to protect nuclear facilities from potential cyber attacks.
• Facilitates Compliance: Adhering to this standard ensures that nuclear power plants meet international safety and cybersecurity requirements, thereby enhancing their credibility and operational integrity.

Comprehensive Coverage

The BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard covers a wide range of topics related to the coordination of safety and cybersecurity, including:

• Integration of safety and cybersecurity measures
• Risk assessment and management
• Design and implementation of control systems
• Monitoring and evaluation of safety and security protocols
• Incident response and recovery planning

With its 30 pages of detailed guidelines, this standard serves as a vital tool for engineers, safety officers, and cybersecurity experts working in the nuclear sector. It provides the necessary insights and methodologies to ensure that nuclear power plants operate safely and securely.

Global Relevance

The BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard is recognized internationally, making it a valuable resource for nuclear power plants around the world. Its adoption helps facilities align with global best practices, fostering international cooperation and knowledge sharing in the field of nuclear safety and cybersecurity.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard is an indispensable guide for the nuclear industry, providing essential requirements for the coordination of safety and cybersecurity in nuclear power plants. Its comprehensive approach ensures that nuclear facilities are well-equipped to handle the challenges of modern-day threats, safeguarding both the environment and human life.

For professionals seeking to enhance their understanding and implementation of safety and cybersecurity measures in nuclear power plants, the BS EN IEC 62859:2020 standard is an invaluable resource that should not be overlooked.

BS EN IEC 62859:2020

This standard BS EN IEC 62859:2020 Nuclear power plants. Instrumentation and control systems. Requirements for coordinating safety and cybersecurity is classified in these ICS categories:

• 27.120.20 Nuclear power plants. Safety

This document provides a framework to manage the interactions between safety and cybersecurity for nuclear power plant (NPP) systems, taking into account the current SC 45A standards addressing these issues and the specifics of nuclear I&C programmable digital systems.

NOTE In this document (as in IEC 62645), cybersecurity relates to prevention of, detection of, and reaction to malicious acts perpetrated by digital means (cyberattacks). In this context, it does not cover considerations related to non-malevolent actions and events such as accidental failures, natural events or human errors (except those degrading cybersecurity). Those aspects are of course of prime importance but they are covered by other SC 45A documents and standards, and are not considered as cybersecurity related in this document.

This document establishes requirements and guidance to:

• integrate cybersecurity provisions in nuclear I&C architectures and systems, which are fundamentally tailored for safety;

• avoid potential conflicts between safety and cybersecurity provisions;

• aid the identification and the leveraging of the potential synergies between safety and cybersecurity.

This document is intended to be used for designing new NPPs, or modernizing existing NPPs, throughout I&C programmable digital systems lifecycle. It is also applicable for assessing the coordination between safety and cybersecurity of existing plants. It may also be applicable to other types of nuclear facilities.

This document addresses I&C programmable digital systems important to safety and I&C programmable digital systems not important to safety. It does not address programmable digital systems dedicated to site physical security, room access control and site security surveillance.

This document is limited to I&C programmable digital systems of NPPs, including their on-site maintenance and configuration tools.

Annex A provides a rationale for and comments about the scope definition and the document application, in particular about the exclusions and limitations previously mentioned.

This document comprises three normative clauses:

• Clause 5 deals with the overall I&C architecture;

• Clause 6 focuses on the system level;

• Clause 7 deals with organizational and operational issues.