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Application & OT Security · Foundational

Human-Machine Interface (HMI)

The software and screens operators use to view process status and issue commands to an industrial control system.

Definition

HMIs often run on commodity operating systems and are exposed to typical IT threats such as malware and remote access abuse. Internet-exposed HMIs with weak authentication have enabled attacks on water facilities.

Example

An operator uses an HMI screen to start a pump and view tank levels.

Exam tip

HMIs bridge people and processes; remote access to them must be tightly controlled.

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