The essential role of computer security in nuclear security and safety

The pace of digital innovation is astonishing, with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) making game changing strides even in the past few months. These advances will help us to improve digitally controlled operations and automation technologies at nuclear facilities, with the potential benefits of improved operational efficiency, reduced labour costs and better safety and security. Advanced nuclear reactor designs, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors, already include plans to use AI and machine learning (ML) to enable innovative features such as automation, remote supervisory control and maintenance, and shared control rooms. But digital innovations, such as AI and ML, also pose a threat. They require constant vigilance to ensure the integrity of sensitive assets and to protect information at nuclear and radiological facilities. While gates and guards have always been used to ensure nuclear facilities are protected from sabotage or malicious actors, today we are becoming increasingly dependent on digital systems. Instrumentation and control systems at nuclear facilities are used for key safety and security applications. This improves efficiency but means we have to be especially vigilant in protecting these computer systems. Countries around the world are recognizing this as a priority.