Cyber security for secure smart grids in industrial control systems

In the context of smart grid technologies, integrating previously isolated components comes with two main challenges: the interoperability of components from different system levels and/or manufacturers, and high levels of resilience against cyber attacks. As part of the Austrian initiative for defining a reference architecture for secure smart grids (RASSA), together with relevant stakeholders including network operators, equipment manufacturers, energy suppliers, regulators and public authorities , experts of the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology have developed methodologies and tools to model a reference architecture for secure future smart grid solutions. They include: The AIT Cyber Range – IT Training and Simulation Platform , the Cyber Security Intelligence Tool 'AECID' – Automatic Event Correlation for Incident Detection in large networks , the Smart Attribute based Encryption (post quantum safe) as well as risk management methods and tools.

With the increasing use of new smart grid technologies, a comprehensive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) network is emerging parallel to the electricity grid, which will be exposed to similar dangers as the Internet, due to its large size and many participants and access points. However, the overall power supply will depend on this ICT system, and similar security problems as in the current Internet would have fatal consequences. Potential threats range from energy theft through electricity meter manipulation, attacks on network operator controls to disrupt operations, to large-scale shutdowns of the national electricity grid, for example for terrorist reasons. AIT develops methods, concepts and software tools to minimise the risk of cyber threats and ensure the security of smart grids.