Wireless Sensor Networks in Nuclear Facilities
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Nuclear facilities rely on sensors to constantly monitor radioactive material, equipment, and processes to ensure safety. These sensors are often installed in radioactive areas that are shielded from human exposure. Wireless networks can provide network connectivity to these sensors without requiring cables to be run into protected areas, which is a difficult and expensive process.
Challenges
Solution
Department of Energy
The NSA has defined a series of open-standards-based requirements for individual devices and protocols that when properly integrated produce a layered solution that can be certified to securely transmit secret data over an 802.11 wireless network. It is anticipated that these requirements will become the standard for US Government agencies wanting to provide mobile access to secret and lower classification networks within their protected enclaves. Fortress has implemented these Suite B cryptographic algorithms and "Secure Sharing Suite" protocols across our product lines. Fortress ES520, ES210, FC-X Several Fortress products are part of the SRNL solution. The ES520 Deployable Mesh Point serves as a secure wireless access point (AP). The ES210 Tactical Mesh Point serves as a wireless bridge and IPsec client, connecting Ethernet and serial sensors to the wireless network. The DS310 Express Security Card provides secure wireless connectivity to thin client tablet computers. The FC-X Security Controller provides high-performance IPsec encryption over the wireless LAN.
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A sensor network must address many challenges. Running cables to hundreds or thousands of sensors can be expensive and time-consuming. Further, running cables into contaminated areas requires expensive processes to ensure no hazardous material leaks from the cable feed-throughs. The environment can also be corrosive and require expensive cable shielding for adequate protection. The sensor data is often classified, requiring strong encryption to protect sensitive transmissions. NSA Type 1 encryption products provide strong security, but are expensive and burdened by operational restrictions that impact acquisition, training, deployment, and monitoring. 
A wireless network is an ideal solution for connecting sensors in hazardous or hard-to-reach environments. A wireless network allows for easy deployment by vastly reducing the amount of cable that must be run. A wireless network can also reduce material and installation costs, since they do not require cable to be trenched or run in protective conduit. Standard 802.11 Wi-Fi technology allows the network to leverage commercial off-the-shelf (
Fortress Technologies won a contract with the Department of Energy's (DOE) Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to develop a series of 802.11 wireless network components. The network components can be integrated into a layered solution to meet security requirements mandated by the National Security Agency (NSA) for classified wireless data transmission up to the SECRET level. This initiative is designed to provide wireless sensor communications at the Savannah River site and other DOE facilities, where cabling and Type 1 solutions would be too costly and burdensome. This project will increase the security, interoperability, and flexibility of the DOE's network by leveraging commercially available equipment, Suite B algorithms, and open standards and protocols.