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Application & OT Security · Intermediate

DNP3

Distributed Network Protocol 3, an industrial protocol used mainly in electric and water utilities for communication between SCADA masters, RTUs and IEDs.

Definition

DNP3 (IEEE 1815) supports time-stamped events, unsolicited reporting and operation over serial or TCP/UDP port 20000. Original DNP3 lacks authentication; DNP3 Secure Authentication adds message authentication, and TLS can protect transport.

Example

A water utility's SCADA master polls RTUs at pump stations using DNP3 over a radio network.

Exam tip

DNP3 = utilities, port 20000; Secure Authentication adds HMAC-based challenge-response.

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