Security and reliability of information and communication technology (ICT) systems from electromagnetic and particle radiations

(Discontinued on 18 January 2021, see TSB Circular 295​)

Motivation

ICT has become an essential part of the way that people organize and conduct their lives, that businesses attract and interact with customers; and that governments provide essential services. Smart grid deploying ICT is one of key technologies for efficient, reliable, economic and sustainable electricity services. ICT therefore has become one of fundamental importance to the function of the world's most developed economies. Therefore, it becomes more and more important to keep security and reliability of ICT equipment to keep safety and promote the use of ICTs.

Recently, problems caused by soft errors, which are caused by particle radiations such as high-energy neutrons created from cosmic rays, are increasing. Such problems can also be caused by the radiations (Alpha particles) produced by equipment itself. With the development of finer processes and higher integration of semiconductors, and higher signal processing speeds and capacities in telecommunications systems, the occurrence and impacts of soft errors are becoming more frequent. Proper design, test, and mitigation against soft error are essential for normal operation of telecommunication systems.

Also lightning and attacks using extreme electromagnetic field such as High-Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (HEMP) and High Power Electromagnetic (HPEM) are threat for ICT societies. Therefore, it is important to develop guidelines to protect key telecommunications centres and ICT equipment from disruption due to electromagnetic effects.

The following Recommendations and Supplement, in force at the time of approval of this Question, fall under its responsibility:

• ITU-T K.78, K.81, K.84, K.87, K.115 and K-series Supplement 5.

Questions

The purpose of this Question is to produce new or revised Recommendations or Supplements regarding proper requirements against soft errors and threat by electromagnetic phenomena to keep reliability and safety of ICT societies.

Study items to be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Design methodologies for the total design of ICT equipment/systems for applying soft error countermeasures;
• Requirements for soft error test facilities consisting of particle accelerators to produce neutron radiation and test procedures for ICT equipment;
• Quality estimation method to find reliability in the real installation based on neutron radiation test;
• Countermeasures based on the phenomena found in the neutron radiation test;
• Technical requirement for preventing information leaks by unexpected radio emission from equipment (EMSEC: Electromagnetic emanation security) and protection of telecommunication and data centres from attacks using high power radio waves (high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) and high power electromagnetic (HPEM));
• Mitigation methods such as electromagnetic shielding.

Tasks

Tasks include, but are not limited to:

• New Recommendations and/or Supplements on:
  • Basic Requirements for providing information about soft errors caused by particle radiations such as high-energy neutrons created from cosmic rays or Alpha particles;
  • Methodologies for the total design of ICT equipment/systems to ensure the quality and reliability of ICT equipment/systems;
  • Requirements for soft error test facilities consisting of particle accelerators used to produce neutron radiation;
  • Selection of test methods, test procedures, test period and methods to monitor errors in ICT equipment subjected to testing;
  • Quality and reliability estimation methods and guide for applying countermeasures in light of results of soft error test.
• Maintenance and enhancement of existing Recommendations on security concerning electromagnetic phenomena.

An up-to-date status of work under this Question is contained in the SG 5 work programme
(http://itu.int/ITU-T/workprog/wp_search.aspx?sg=5).

​​​Relationships

Recommendations:

• ITU-T K-series

Questions:

•  Q1/5, Q2/5, Q4/5

Study Groups:

• ITU-T SGs
• ITU-R SGs
• ITU-D SGs

Standardization bodies:

• IEC TC 47, IEC TC 77, IEC SC 77C, IEC JTC 1
• IEEE EMC TC5
• CIGRE C4.206 WG​