Abstract: A system and a method for securing control systems for critical infrastructure, complex networks and/or industrial processing facilities. Aspects of the invention can include a proximity-based user identification device that generates a computer-readable identification of operators who are in proximity to a control device in the control system and an imaging device that captures a visual likeness of operators in proximity to the control device. A network sensor can read operation data from the control system. An overlay network can interconnect the proximity-based identification device, the imaging device, and the network sensor, and can interface to the control system without modifying the control system. Processing hardware can execute processor-implemented instructions to generate a correlation between at least a portion of the operation data and the control system, the computer-readable identification, and the visual likeness.

Abstract: Computer-processable communication authentication and validation methods and apparatuses are described according to various embodiments. In one embodiment, an authentication and validation method comprises encapsulating an untrusted payload with a header and an authenticator. The header can comprise a unique identifier and the authenticator can comprise at least a portion of a keyed-hash message authentication (HMAC) value based on the content of the header, the content of the payload, and a unique key maintained for each of one or more receiving devices.