Biblio

A distributed energy resource prototype is used to show cybersecurity best practices. These best practices include straightforward security techniques, such as encrypted serial communication. The best practices include more sophisticated security techniques, such as a method to evaluate and respond to firmware integrity at run-time. The prototype uses embedded Linux, a hardware-assisted monitor, one or more digital signal processors, and grid-connected power electronics. Security features to protect communication, firmware, power flow, and hardware are developed. The firmware run-time integrity security is presently evaluated, and shown to maintain power electronics uptime during firmware updating. The firmware run-time security feature can be extended to allow software rejuvenation, multi-mission controls, and greater flexibility and security in controls.

Wireless networks offer great flexibility and ease of deployment for the rapid implementation of smart grids. However, these data network technologies are prone to security issues. Especially, the risk of eavesdropping attacks increases due to the inherent characteristics of the wireless medium. In this context, physical layer security can augment secrecy through appropriate coding and signal processing. In this paper we consider the use of faster-than-Nyquist signaling to introduce artificial noise in the wireless network segment of the smart grid; with the aim of reinforce the information security at the physical layer. The results show that the proposed scheme can significantly improves the secrecy rate of the channel. Guaranteeing, in coexistence with other security mechanisms and despite the presence of potential eavesdroppers, a reliable and secure flow of information for smart grids.

The virtual world does not observe national borders, has no uniform legal system, and does not have a common perception of security and privacy issues. It is however, relatively homogenous in terms of technology.A cyberattack on an energy delivery system can have significant impacts on the availability of a system to perform critical functions as well as the integrity of the system and the confidentiality of sensitive information.

Smart Grids require extensive communication to enable safe and stable energy supply in the age of decentralized and dynamic energy production and consumption. To protect the communication in this critical infrastructure, public authorities mandate smart meter gateways (SMGWs) to be in control of the communication security. To this end, the SMGW intercepts all inbound and outbound communication of its premise, e.g., a factory or smart home, and forwards it on secure channels that the SMGW established itself. However, using the SMGW as proxy, local devices can neither review the security of these remote connections established by the SMGW nor enforce higher security guarantees than established by the all in one configuration of the SMGW which does not allow for use case-specific security settings. We present mechanisms that enable local devices to regain this insight and control over the full connection, i.e., up to the final receiver, while retaining the SMGW's ability to ensure a suitable security level. Our evaluation shows modest computation and transmission overheads for this increased security in the critical smart grid infrastructure.

As a national strategic hot spot, the Internet of Things (IoT) has shown its vigor and vitality. With the development of IoT, its application in power grid is more and more extensive. As an advanced technology for information sensing and transmission, IoT has been applied extensively in power generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, utilization and other processes, and will develop with broad prospect in smart grid. Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) is of broad application prospects in production management, life-cycle asset management and smart power utilization of smart grid. Its characteristics and security demands of application domain present a challenge for the security of electric power business. However, current protocols either need dual authentication and key agreements, or have poor compatibility with current network architecture. In order to improve the high security of power network data transmission, an end-to-end security authentication protocol of NB-IoT for smart grid based on physical unclonable function and state secret algorithm SM3 is proposed in this paper. A self-controllable NB-IoT application layer security architecture was designed by introducing the domestic cryptographic algorithm, extending the existing key derivation structure of LTE, and combining the physical unclonable function to ensure the generation of encryption keys between NB-IoT terminals and power grid business platforms. The protocol of this paper realizes secure data transmission and bidirectional identity authentication between IoT devices and terminals. It is of low communication costs, lightweight and flexible key update. In addition, the protocol also supports terminal authentication during key agreement, which furtherly enhances the security of business systems in smart grid.

As the next generation of the power system, smart grid develops towards automated and intellectualized. Along with the benefits brought by smart grids, e.g., improved energy conversion rate, power utilization rate, and power supply quality, are the security challenges. One of the most important issues in smart grids is to ensure reliable communication between the secondary equipment. The state-of-art method to ensure smart grid security is to detect cyber attacks by deep learning. However, due to the small number of negative samples, the performance of the detection system is limited. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that utilizes the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) to generate abundant negative samples, which helps to improve the performance of the state-of-art detection system. The evaluation results demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively improve the performance of the detection system by 4%.

Security and consistency of smart grids is one of the main issues in the design and maintenance of highly controlled and monitored new power grids. Bad data injection attack could lead to disasters such as power system outage, or huge economical losses. In many attack scenarios, the attacker can come up with new attack strategies that couldn't be detected by the traditional bad data detection methods. Adaptive Partitioning State Estimation (APSE) method [3] has been proposed recently to combat such attacks. In this work, we evaluate and compare with a traditional method. The main idea of APSE is to increase the sensitivity of the chi-square test by partitioning the large grids into small ones and apply the test on each partition individually and repeat this procedure until the faulty node is located. Our simulation findings using MATPOWER program show that the method is not consistent where it is sensitive the systems size and the location of faulty nodes as well.

The technological development of the energy sector also produced complex data. In this study, the relationship between smart grid and big data approaches have been investigated. After analyzing which areas of the smart grid system use big data technologies and technologies, big data technologies for detecting smart grid attacks have received attention. Big data analytics can produce efficient solutions and it is especially important to choose which algorithms and metrics to use. For this reason, an application prototype has been proposed that uses a big data method to detect attacks on the smart grid. The algorithm with high accuracy was determined to be 92% for random forests and 87% for decision trees.

Traditional power grid security schemes are being replaced by highly advanced and efficient smart security schemes due to the advancement in grid structure and inclusion of cyber control and monitoring tools. Smart attackers create physical, cyber, or cyber-physical attacks to gain the access of the power system and manipulate/override system status, measurements and commands. In this paper, we formulate the environment for the attacker-defender interaction in the smart power grid. We provide a strategic analysis of the attacker-defender strategic interaction using a game theoretic approach. We apply repeated game to formulate the problem, implement it in the power system, and investigate for optimal strategic behavior in terms of mixed strategies of the players. In order to define the utility or cost function for the game payoffs calculation, generation power is used. Attack-defense budget is also incorporated with the attacker-defender repeated game to reflect a more realistic scenario. The proposed game model is validated using IEEE 39 bus benchmark system. A comparison between the proposed game model and the all monitoring model is provided to validate the observations.

Cyber security has been a top concern for electric power companies deploying smart meters and smart grid technology. Despite the well-known advantages of smart grid technology and the smart meters, it is not yet very clear how and to what extent, the Cyber attacks can hamper the operation of the smart meters, and remote data collections regarding the power usage from the customer sites. To understand these questions, we conducted experiments in a controlled lab environment of our cyber security lab to test a commercial grade smart meter. In this paper, we present results of our investigation for a commercial grade smart meter and measure the operation integrity of the smart meter under cyber-attack conditions.

Energy Distribution Grids are considered critical infrastructure, hence the Distribution System Operators (DSOs) have developed sophisticated engineering practices to improve their resilience. Over the last years, due to the "Smart Grid" evolution, this infrastructure has become a distributed system where prosumers (the consumers who produce and share surplus energy through the grid) can plug in distributed energy resources (DERs) and manage a bi-directional flow of data and power enabled by an advanced IT and control infrastructure. This introduces new challenges, as the prosumers possess neither the skills nor the knowledge to assess the risk or secure the environment from cyber-threats. We propose a simple and usable approach based on the Reference Model of Information Assurance & Security (RMIAS), to support the prosumers in the selection of cybesecurity measures. The purpose is to reduce the risk of being directly targeted and to establish collective responsibility among prosumers as grid gatekeepers. The framework moves from a simple risk analysis based on security goals to providing guidelines for the users for adoption of adequate security countermeasures. One of the greatest advantages of the approach is that it does not constrain the user to a specific threat model.

This work proposes a moving target defense (MTD) strategy to detect coordinated cyber-physical attacks (CCPAs) against power grids. A CCPA consists of a physical attack, such as disconnecting a transmission line, followed by a coordinated cyber attack that injects false data into the sensor measurements to mask the effects of the physical attack. Such attacks can lead to undetectable line outages and cause significant damage to the grid. The main idea of the proposed approach is to invalidate the knowledge that the attackers use to mask the effects of the physical attack by actively perturbing the grid's transmission line reactances using distributed flexible AC transmission system (D-FACTS) devices. We identify the MTD design criteria in this context to thwart CCPAs. The proposed MTD design consists of two parts. First, we identify the subset of links for D-FACTS device deployment that enables the defender to detect CCPAs against any link in the system. Then, in order to minimize the defense cost during the system's operational time, we use a game-theoretic approach to identify the best subset of links (within the D-FACTS deployment set) to perturb which will provide adequate protection. Extensive simulations performed using the MATPOWER simulator on IEEE bus systems verify the effectiveness of our approach in detecting CCPAs and reducing the operator's defense cost.

The ongoing digitalization of the power distribution grid will improve the operational support and automation which is believed to increase the system reliability. However, in an integrated and interdependent cyber-physical system, new threats appear which must be understood and dealt with. Of particular concern, in this paper, is the causes of an inconsistent view between the physical system (here power grid) and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) system (here Distribution Management System). In this paper we align the taxonomy used in International Electrotechnical Commission (power eng.) and International Federation for Information Processing (ICT community), define a metric for inconsistencies, and present a modelling approach using Stochastic Activity Networks to assess the consequences of inconsistencies. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated in a simple use case.

The tremendous advances in information and communications technology (ICT), as well as the embedded systems, have been led to the emergence of the novel concept of the internet of things (IoT). Enjoying IoT-based technologies, many objects and components can be connected to each other through the internet or other modern communicational platforms. Embedded systems which are computing machines for special purposes like those utilized in high-tech devices, smart buildings, aircraft, and vehicles including advanced controllers, sensors, and meters with the ability of information exchange using IT infrastructures. The phrase "internet", in this context, does not exclusively refer to the World Wide Web rather than any type of server-based or peer-to-peer networks. In this study, the application of IoT in smart grids is addressed. Hence, at first, an introduction to the necessity of deployment of IoT in smart grids is presented. Afterwards, the applications of IoT in three levels of generation, transmission, and distribution is proposed. The generation level is composed of applications of IoT in renewable energy resources, wind and solar in particular, thermal generation, and energy storage facilities. The deployment of IoT in transmission level deals with congestion management in power system and guarantees the security of the system. In the distribution level, the implications of IoT in active distribution networks, smart cities, microgrids, smart buildings, and industrial sector are evaluated.

Modern advances in sensor, computing, and communication technologies enable various smart grid applications. The heavy dependence on communication technology has highlighted the vulnerability of the electricity grid to false data injection (FDI) attacks that can bypass bad data detection mechanisms. Existing mitigation in the power system either focus on redundant measurements or protect a set of basic measurements. These methods make specific assumptions about FDI attacks, which are often restrictive and inadequate to deal with modern cyber threats. In the proposed approach, a deep learning based framework is used to detect injected data measurement. Our time-series anomaly detector adopts a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) network. To effectively estimate system variables, our approach observes both data measurements and network level features to jointly learn system states. The proposed system is tested on IEEE 39-bus system. Experimental analysis shows that the deep learning algorithm can identify anomalies which cannot be detected by traditional state estimation bad data detection.

Today's smart-grids have seen a clear rise in new ways of energy generation, transmission, and storage. This has not only introduced a huge degree of variability, but also a continual shift away from traditionally centralized generation and storage to distributed energy resources (DERs). In addition, the distributed sensors, energy generators and storage devices, and networking have led to a huge increase in attack vectors that make the grid vulnerable to a variety of attacks. The interconnection between computational and physical components through a largely open, IP-based communication network enables an attacker to cause physical damage through remote cyber-attacks or attack on software-controlled grid operations via physical- or cyber-attacks. Transactive Energy (TE) is an emerging approach for managing increasing DERs in the smart-grids through economic and control techniques. Transactive Smart-Grids use the TE approach to improve grid reliability and efficiency. However, skepticism remains in their full-scale viability for ensuring grid reliability. In addition, different TE approaches, in specific situations, can lead to very different outcomes in grid operations. In this paper, we present a comprehensive web-based platform for evaluating resilience of smart-grids against a variety of cyber- and physical-attacks and evaluating impact of various TE approaches on grid performance. We also provide several case-studies demonstrating evaluation of TE approaches as well as grid resilience against cyber and physical attacks.

Smart grid consists of smart devices to control, record and analyze the grid power flow. All these devices belong to the latest technology, which is used to interact through the wireless network making the grid communication network vulnerable to cyber attack. This paper deals with a novel approach using altering the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the smart grid communication network using fuzzy logic according to the degree of node. Through graph theory approach Wireless Communication Network (WCN) is designed by considering each node of the system as a smart sensor. In this each node communicates with other nearby nodes for exchange of data. Whenever there is cyber intrusion the WCN change its IP using proposed fuzzy rules, where higher degree nodes are given the preference to change first with extreme IP available in the system. Using the proposed algorithm, different IEEE test systems are simulated and compared with existing Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The fuzzy logic approach reduces the data loss and improves the system response time.

The operating system is extremely important for both "Made in China 2025" and ubiquitous electric power Internet of Things. By investigating of five key requirements for ubiquitous electric power Internet of Things at the OS level (performance, ecosystem, information security, functional security, developer framework), this paper introduces the intelligent NARI microkernel Operating System and its innovative schemes. It is implemented with microkernel architecture based on the trusted computing. Some technologies such as process based fine-grained real-time scheduling algorithm, sigma0 efficient message channel and service process binding in multicore are applied to improve system performance. For better ecological expansion, POSIX standard API is compatible, Linux container, embedded virtualization and intelligent interconnection technology are supported. Native process sandbox and mimicry defense are considered for security mechanism design. Multi-level exception handling and multidimensional partition isolation are adopted to provide High Reliability. Theorem-assisted proof tools based on Isabelle/HOL is used to verify the design and implementation of NARI microkernel OS. Developer framework including tools, kit and specification is discussed when developing both system software and user software on this IoT OS.

In this paper, development of cyber communication package in the application of grid connected solar system has been presented. Here, implemented communication methodology supports communication process with reduced latency, high security arrangement with various degrees of freedom. Faithful transferring of various electrical data for the purpose of measurement, monitoring and controlling actions depend on the bidirectional communication strategy. Thus, real-time communication of data through cyber network has been emphasized in this paper. The C\# language based coding is done to develop the communication program. The notable features of proposed communication process are reduction of latency during data exchange by usage of advanced encryption standard (AES) algorithm, tightening of cyber security arrangement by implementing secured socket layer (SSL) and Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (RSA) algorithms. Various real-time experiments using internet connected computers have been done to verify the usability of the proposed communication concept along with its notable features in the application.

The new generation ship integrated power system (IPS) realizes high level informatization for various physical equipments, and gradually develops to a cyber-physical system (CPS). The future trend is collecting ship big data to achieve data-driven intelligence for IPS. However, traditional relational data management framework becomes inefficient to handle the real-time data processing in ship integrated power cyber-physics system. In order to process the large-scale real-time data that collected from numerous sensors by field bus of IPS devices within acceptable latency, especially for handling the semi-structured and non-structured data. This paper proposes a novel key-value data model based real-time data management framework, which enables batch processing and distributed deployment to acquire time-efficiency as well as system scalable. We implement a real-time data management prototype system based on an open source in-memory key-value store. Finally, the evaluation results from the prototype verify the advantages of novel framework compared with traditional solution.

In this paper, we focus on versatile and scalable key management for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in Smart Grid (SG). We show that a recently proposed key graph based scheme for AMI systems (VerSAMI) suffers from efficiency flaws in its broadcast key management protocol. Then, we propose a new key management scheme (iVerSAMI) by modifying VerSAMI's key graph structure and proposing a new broadcast key update process. We analyze security and performance of the proposed broadcast key management in details to show that iVerSAMI is secure and efficient in terms of storage and communication overheads.

With the latest development of hydroelectric power generation system, the industrial control network system of hydroelectric power generation has undergone the transformation from the dedicated network, using proprietary protocols to an increasingly open network, adopting standard protocols, and increasing integration with hydroelectric power generation system. It generally believed that with the improvement of the smart grid, the future hydroelectric power generation system will rely more on the powerful network system. The general application of standardized communication protocol and intelligent electronic equipment in industrial control network provides a technical guarantee for realizing the intellectualization of hydroelectric power generation system but also brings about the network security problems that cannot be ignored. In order to solve the vulnerability of the system, we analyze and quantitatively evaluate the industrial control network of hydropower generation as a whole, and propose a set of attack and defense strategies. The method of vulnerability assessment with high diversity score proposed by us avoids the indifference of different vulnerability score to the greatest extent. At the same time, we propose an optimal attack and defense decision algorithm, which generates the optimal attack and defense strategy. The work of this paper can distinguish the actual hazards of vulnerable points more effectively.

With the rapid development of Internet of Things applications, the power Internet of Things technologies and applications covering the various production links of the power grid "transmission, transmission, transformation, distribution and use" are becoming more and more popular, and the terminal, network and application security risks brought by them are receiving more and more attention. Combined with the architecture and risk of power Internet of Things, this paper first proposes the overall security protection technology system and strategy for power Internet of Things; then analyzes terminal identity authentication and authority control, edge area autonomy and data transmission protection, and application layer cloud fog security management. And the whole process real-time security monitoring; Finally, through the analysis of security risks and protection, the technical difficulties and directions for the security protection of the Internet of Things are proposed.

Controllers of security-critical cyber-physical systems, like the power grid, are a very important class of computer systems. Attacks against the control code of a power-grid system, especially zero-day attacks, can be catastrophic. Earlier detection of the anomalies can prevent further damage. However, detecting zero-day attacks is extremely challenging because they have no known code and have unknown behavior. Furthermore, if data collected from the controller is transferred to a server through networks for analysis and detection of anomalous behavior, this creates a very large attack surface and also delays detection. In order to address this problem, we propose Reconstruction Error Distribution (RED) of Hardware Performance Counters (HPCs), and a data-driven defense system based on it. Specifically, we first train a temporal deep learning model, using only normal HPC readings from legitimate processes that run daily in these power-grid systems, to model the normal behavior of the power-grid controller. Then, we run this model using real-time data from commonly available HPCs. We use the proposed RED to enhance the temporal deep learning detection of anomalous behavior, by estimating distribution deviations from the normal behavior with an effective statistical test. Experimental results on a real power-grid controller show that we can detect anomalous behavior with high accuracy (\textbackslashtextgreater99.9%), nearly zero false positives and short (\textbackslashtextless; 360ms) latency.

As cloud services enter the Internet market, cloud security issues are gradually exposed. In the era of knowledge economy, the unique potential value of big data is being gradually explored. However, the control of data security is facing many challenges. According to the development status and characteristics of database within the cloud environment, this paper preliminary studies on the database security risks faced by the “three-clouds” of State Grid Corporation of China. Based on the mature standardization of information security, this paper deeply studies the database security requirements of cloud environment, and six-step method for cloud database protection is presented, which plays an important role in promoting development of security work for the cloud database. Four key technologies of cloud database security protection are introduced, including database firewall technology, sensitive data encryption, production data desensitization, and database security audit technology. It is helpful to the technology popularization of the grade protection in the security of the cloud database, and plays a great role in the construction of the security of the state grid.