Glossary
Industrial control system (ICS)
Also known as: IACS, Industrial automation and control system
An industrial control system (ICS) is a combination of control components — such as PLCs, DCS and SCADA — that together monitor and control an industrial process.
By Thomas HeukerLast updated:
ICS is the umbrella term for the systems that automate industrial processes. Common types are SCADA for geographically distributed assets, distributed control systems (DCS) for continuous process plants, and PLC-based control for machines and production lines. The IEC 62443 series uses the term industrial automation and control system (IACS), which also includes the people and procedures around the technology.