Securing critical infrastructure (original) (raw)

CYBER SECURITY AND CHALLENGES OF THE SMART GRID.pdf 2.pdf

— Cyber security in smart grid systems is becoming a major concern throughout the grid communication networks and software platforms that operate and manage the entire grid. The smart grid networks characteristics such as heterogeneity, delay constraints, bandwidth, scalability, and others make it challenging to deploy uniform security approaches all over the networks segments. Therefore, more research is required to develop standards and techniques that meet the smart grid network requirements at a low cost. In this paper, we discuss some of the existing cyber security issues in smart grid networks, highlight some of the latest solutions, and propose a new security conceptual model based on the Internet of Things paradigm.

Smart grid cyber security: Challenges and solutions

2015 International Conference on Smart Grid and Clean Energy Technologies (ICSGCE), 2015

Cyber security in smart grid systems is becoming a major concern throughout the grid communication networks and software platforms that operate and manage the entire grid. The smart grid networks characteristics such as heterogeneity, delay constraints, bandwidth, scalability, and others make it challenging to deploy uniform security approaches all over the networks segments. Therefore, more research is required to develop standards and techniques that meet the smart grid network requirements at a low cost. In this paper, we discuss some of the existing cyber security issues in smart grid networks, highlight some of the latest solutions, and propose a new security conceptual model based on the Internet of Things paradigm.

Cyber security threats — Smart grid infrastructure

2016 National Power Systems Conference (NPSC), 2016

Smart grid is an evolving new power system framework with ICT driven power equipment massively layered structure. The new generation sensors, smart meters and electronic devices are integral components of smart grid. However, the upcoming deployment of smart devices at different layers followed by their integration with communication networks may introduce cyber threats. The interdependencies of various subsystems functioning in the smart grid, if affected by cyber-attack, may be vulnerable and greatly reduce efficiency and reliability due to any one of the device not responding in real time frame. The cyber security vulnerabilities become even more evident due to the existing superannuated cyber infrastructure. This paper presents a critical review on expected cyber security threats in complex environment and addresses the grave concern of a secure cyber infrastructure and related developments. An extensive review on the cyber security objectives and requirements along with the risk evaluation process has been undertaken. The paper analyses confidentiality and privacy issues of entire components of smart power system. A critical evaluation on upcoming challenges with innovative research concerns is highlighted to achieve a roadmap of an immune smart grid infrastructure. This will further facilitate R&D and associated developments.

A Survey on Cyber Security for Smart Grid Communications

—A smart grid is a new form of electricity network with high fidelity power-flow control, self-healing, and energy reliability and energy security using digital communications and control technology. To upgrade an existing power grid into a smart grid, it requires significant dependence on intelligent and secure communication infrastructures. It requires security frameworks for distributed communications, pervasive computing and sensing technologies in smart grid. However, as many of the communication technologies currently recommended to use by a smart grid is vulnerable in cyber security, it could lead to unreliable system operations, causing unnecessary expenditure, even consequential disaster to both utilities and consumers. In this paper, we summarize the cyber security requirements and the possible vulnerabilities in smart grid communications and survey the current solutions on cyber security for smart grid communications.

Evolving Cyber Security Challenges to the Smart Grid Landscape

Integrating smart solutions into the existing power infrastructure promises to offer attractive capabilities of dynamic monitoring, measuring and even controlling power flows in real time that can help identify losses and trigger appropriate technical and managerial actions to minimize the damage. With the vision of building a Smart India, Government of India's National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) is solely aimed at providing functional resources and financial assistance in planning and implementation of smart grids across the nation. NSGM proposes comprehensive solutions for the development, establishment, operations and management of smart grids, stipulate training & capacity building, strengthen consumer engagement and dispense funding to state-owned DISCOMs. Smart grid solutions vastly employ information technology in the underlying roots in varying forms of networking and application aspects to enable monitoring and control of the flow of electricity to end users. The extensive incorporation of information technology provides numerous benefits to the grid operations and management, such as increased visibility, predictability, in addition to the regulation of generation and demand to improve efficiency. However, this enhanced use of information technology to the grid has in parallel introduced the dimension of cybercrime to the smart grid as the grid is now constantly connected to the Internet and can be exploited by hackers by leveraging the wide array of cyber security vulnerabilities. Security of the smart grid is essential to ensure uninterrupted power supply and minimize resulting losses. Compromise of the grid may result in a huge information or business losses by the means of cyber espionage or grid collapse. An uninterrupted power supply lies at the heart of all sectors and failures to the same will result in cascading damages, compelling the establishment of robust smart grids. The paper offers insight into key cyber security threats and vulnerabilities concerning the smart grid technology and proposes protection strategies, methodologies, and technologies to safeguard the smart grid from resulting security damages.

Communication security for smart grid distribution networks

IEEE Communications Magazine, 2000

The operation and control of the next generation electrical grids will depend on complex network of computers, software, and communication technologies. Their compromise by a malicious adversary will cause significant damage, including extended power outages and destruction of electrical equipment. Moreover, the implementation of the smart grid will include the deployment of many new enabling technologies such as advanced sensors and metering and the integration of distributed generation resources. Such technologies and various others will require the addition and utilization of multiple communication mechanisms and infrastructures that may suffer from serious cyber vulnerabilities. These need to be addressed in order to increase the security and thus the utmost adoption and success of the smart grid. In this paper, we focus on the communication security aspect which deals with the distribution component of the smart grid. Consequently, we target the network security of the advanced metering infrastructure coupled with the data communication towards the transmission infrastructure. We discuss the security and the feasibility aspects of possible communication mechanisms that could be adopted on that subpart of the grid. By accomplishing this, the correlated vulnerabilities in these systems could be remediated and associated risks may be mitigated for the purpose of enhancing the cyber security of the future electric grid.

Securing Smart Grid : Cyber Security Requirements and Current Security Solutions

2013

A smart grid is a new self-healing, self-activating form of electricity network, which integrates power-flow control, increased quality of electricity, and energy reliability, energy efficiency and energy security using information and communication technologies. Its two-way communication and electricity flow enable to monitor, predict and manage the energy usage. To upgrade an existing power grid into a smart grid, it requires an intelligent and secure communication infrastructure. A security architecture for distributed communications, pervasive computing, and sensing security technologies will be used as a security solution. In this article, we describe the smart grid goals and tactics solution, and present a three-layer network communication architecture for smart grid. Next, we discus about security requirement in smart grid. We then introduce the current security solution, whose integration is essential for achieving protection against existing and future sophisticated

Cyber-security in smart grid: Survey and challenges

2018

Smart grid uses the power of information technology to intelligently deliver energy by using a two-way communication and wisely meet the environmental requirements by facilitating the integration of green technologies. The inherent weakness of communication technology has exposed the system to numerous security threats. Several survey papers have discussed these problems and their countermeasures. However, most of these papers classified attacks based on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but they excluded the accountability. In addition, the existing countermeasures focus on countering some specific attacks or protecting some specific components, but there is no global approach to secure the entire system. In this paper, we review the security requirements, provide descriptions of several severe cyber-attacks, and propose a cyber-security strategy to detect and counter these attacks. Lastly, we provide some future research directions.

Design Principles for Power Grid Cyber-Infrastructure Authentication Protocols

2010 43rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 2010

Recently, there has been an increased focus and a sense of urgency in developing standards for Power Grid systems centered on the need for interoperability. Given the threat against these systems an important goal is the development of effective cyber security standards. However, past experience shows that security protocols are prone to design errors. Focusing on authentication protocols, in this work we discuss key design principles and engineering practices that we believe can help ensure the correctness and effectiveness of standards for authentication in Power Grid protocols; e.g., DNP3. This work builds on past work in the area of principles of authentication in Internet protocols but focuses the discussion on the constraints of the Power Grid; in particular, the need for efficient and highly available systems 1 .

Communication and Cyber Security issues in Smart Grid

— Smart Grid is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) enabled Power grid. It is efficient, secure, reliable and self-healing power grid. Integration of micro grids, electric vehicles and other utilities make it more interesting. The deregulation of electricity sector has necessitated the use of many advanced software and embedded technologies to handle the size and complexity of power network. Smart grid needs to be supported by efficient and secure communication architecture design and implementation. At the same time it is necessary to ensure the security and privacy of data and information moving or stored in the smart grid system to have near 100% uptime of the power grid. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the various communication and cyber security issues involved with the successful operation of Smart Grid.