Field
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
A power electronics device controlling motor speed and torque.
High criticalityLevel 1 – Level 0
What it does
Converts and modulates power to drive motors according to controller commands.
Typically locatedMotor control centres and machine panels.
At a glance
PurdueLevel 1 – Level 0
CategoryField
Protocolsethernet-ip, profinet, modbus-tcp
Talks toPLC, HMI, Drive configuration software
Common vendorsRockwell Automation (PowerFlex), Siemens (SINAMICS), ABB (ACS580/ACS880), Schneider Electric (Altivar), Yaskawa
Why should I care?
Variable Frequency Drive sits at Level 1 – Level 0. Compromise here is not just a data problem — it changes what the physical process does or what operators can see and control.
Common security problems
- Parameter changes over the network without authentication
- Web/management interfaces enabled by default
If it is compromised
- Equipment stress or damage
- Process disruption
What to monitor
- Parameter writes
- Management interface access
- Unexpected speed commands
How to defend it
- Disable unused management interfaces
- Restrict drive networks to their cell zone
- Baseline drive parameters
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