Redazione RHC : 11 August 2025 08:51
ElectroSim Industrialis an educational virtual machine that simulates the operating platform of a typical electric utility, combining consumption control, industrial monitoring, and essential cybersecurity concepts. The environment is designed for students, teachers, and professionals in training, offering a real-world laboratory where they can practice hands-on with the technologies and protocols used in OT/ICS systems.
The core of the simulation is based on well-known and reliable industrial components: OpenPLC for control logic, Node-RED for sensor data flows, InfluxDB for storing time series, Grafana for dynamic dashboards, Mosquitto for IoT communications, and MariaDB for managing customer and utility data. The defensive aspect includes tools like Suricata for network monitoring and UFW/Fail2Ban for perimeter security.
The environment is available in two versions: a lightweight version without a graphical interface, for use in terminal mode, and an XFCE-based GUI for those who prefer a full visual experience. Both versions are distributed via .ova files, ready to be imported into VirtualBox. With a few clicks, you can start the VM, log in with default credentials, and immediately be ready to experiment with interfaces like Grafana, Node-RED, and InfluxDB via your browser.
The project is deliberately “clean”: it does not contain flows, dashboards, or preconfigured data. This design encourages autonomous creation of flows in Node-RED, definition of dashboards in Grafana, insertion and querying of data in InfluxDB, and experimentation with custom automation and defense configurations. It’s an excellent starting point for those who want to experiment with real-world OT scenarios, gain practical skills, and understand the dynamics of an industrial-like electrical ecosystem. ElectroSim Industrial is a significant project for those who want to explore cybersecurity in the OT/ICS world using a concrete and accessible tool. The author, Ivanka Fernández Leivas, has made the environment available under the Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0 license, allowing sharing and use for educational purposes (but not modifications or altered distribution). Overall, it’s a valuable resource for training, teaching, and self-practice in simulated industrial scenarios.
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