RTU or PLC? — TechKnowSurge

About this interactive

A remote terminal unit (RTU) and a programmable logic controller (PLC) both control equipment, and today they overlap a great deal. Historically, PLCs were the more advanced, and RTUs the more basic. The key to where an RTU fits is distance. It controls equipment that is remote, out in the field: oil pumps, pipelines, water stations. A central server is not always reachable from there, so the RTU is programmed to control the equipment on its own, and it reports back when it can. A PLC fits on the factory floor, close to the SCADA system that directs it. To sort a card, ask where the equipment is: out in the field, far from central control, or inside the plant.

What you'll learn

Decide whether a remote terminal unit (equipment out in the field, far from central control, able to run on its own) or a programmable logic controller (equipment on the factory floor) fits a control job better

Aligned to

CompTIA Security+

3.1 Compare and contrast security implications of different architecture models.

Key terms

Remote Terminal Unit: Remote Terminal Unit is a field device in OT/ICS environments that collects sensor data and executes commands; RTU compromise can allow unauthorized control of physical infrastructure.
Programmable Logic Controller: Programmable Logic Controller is an industrial computer used to automate machinery and processes; PLC security is a cornerstone of OT protection as exploitation can cause physical damage.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition is a system architecture used in critical infrastructure to collect sensor data and issue real-time control commands; SCADA security failures can result in physical damage to industrial equipment and facilities.

Topics

Interactive Streak Sort

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