IEEE Std 1642-2015 pdf download – IEEE Recommended Practice for Protecting Publicly Accessible Computer Systems from Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI).
1.3 Background The term high-power electromagnetics (HPEM) has been used for many years and generally describes a set of transient EM environments where the peak electric and magnetic fields can be very high. The typical environments considered in the past as part of HPEM are the EM fields from nearby lightning strikes, the EM fields near an electrostatic discharge (ESD), the high-altitude electromagnetic pulse (HEMP) created by nuclear bursts, and the EM fields created by radar systems. The EMC Society of the IEEE’s Technical Committee 5 (TC-5), “High Power Electromagnetics,” deals with all of these subjects. In addition, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is active in developing standards for commercial equipment and systems under Subcommittee 77C, “High power transient phenomena.” In the past 15 years, two new terms have arisen in the EMC field: EM terrorism [B5] 1 and intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) [B30]. In recent years, the scientific community has agreed to utilize the more generic term, IEMI, which includes EM terrorism. In February 1999 at a workshop held at the Zurich EMC symposium, the currently accepted definition for IEMI was suggested: “Intentional malicious generation of electromagnetic energy introducing noise or signals into electric and electronic systems, thus disrupting, confusing or damaging these systems for terrorist or criminal purposes” [B41]. It is noted that hackers are not mentioned explicitly in this definition, although in most countries of the world, an attack on commercial interests for entertainment purposes is against the law. While the motives of the attackers may vary, the results can be the same for civil society. The scientific community has been working for many years to understand this threat and to provide useful guidance on protection.
It is important to recognize that a special issue of IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility devoted to HPEM and IEMI [B38] was produced in 2004 (hereafter referred to as “the 2004 Special Issue”), summarizing many years of work. This was preceded by two related special issues of these transactions covering the nuclear electromagnetic pulse in 1978 [B20] and high-power microwaves (HPM) in 1992 [B21]. It is clear that many EM models and codes developed in the past to deal with the intense, high-frequency portion of the electromagnetic pulse and the high levels of fields associated with HPM are relevant to the new field of IEMI. This is because the analysis of transient, high-frequency, time-domain EM fields, their coupling to electronic systems, and the protection of equipment and systems from these environments require an understanding of both time-dependent and non-linear aspects, factors not always present in the routine treatment of EMC. In addition, the development of miniaturized pulsers and antenna systems in recent years has produced a situation where different types of intense EM fields (narrowband to very wideband) can be produced at close ranges. With the development of more sophisticated computer equipment and the proximity of this equipment to the public, it is likely that criminals will use EM threat devices to interfere with these computers, disrupting the ability of companies to provide important services to the public. It is the purpose of this standard practice to recommend methods to protect computers from this new threat through a combination of equipment design and monitoring of the threat.