Cyber Security and Power System Communication-Essential Parts of a Smart Grid Infrastructure

• Published in: IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 1501 - 1507
• Main Author: Ericsson, Göran N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01.07.2010; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Broadband communication; Communication systems; Computer information security; Computer security; Computer simulation; control systems; cyber security; Electric power generation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical machines; Electrical power engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Information security; Infrastructure; IT security; Mathematical models; Medical services; Meters; Miscellaneous; Operation. Load control. Reliability; Power control; Power networks and lines; power system communication; power system control; Power system modeling; Power system security; power systems; Regulation and control; SCADA; security; smart grid; Smart grids; Substations; wide-area networks; Wind energy; Communication systems; Intelligent networks; security; Wind energy; Wide area network; Information protection; power system communication; wide-area networks; control systems; Safety; Intelligent system; SCADA; Substation; Automation; smart grid; cyber security; IT security; Power system control; Control system; Wide band transmission; information security; Power electronics; Electrical network; Power control; SCADA systems; Telecommunication system; power systems; Computer system; Energy management
• ISSN: 0885-8977; 1937-4208
• DOI: 10.1109/TPWRD.2010.2046654

The introduction of "smart grid" solutions imposes that cyber security and power system communication systems must be dealt with extensively. These parts together are essential for proper electricity transmission, where the information infrastructure is critical. The development of communication capabilities, moving power control systems from "islands of automation" to totally integrated computer environments, have opened up new possibilities and vulnerabilities. Since several power control systems have been procured with "openness" requirements, cyber security threats become evident. For refurbishment of a SCADA/EMS system, a separation of the operational and administrative computer systems must be obtained. The paper treats cyber security issues, and it highlights access points in a substation. Also, information security domain modeling is treated. Cyber security issues are important for "smart grid" solutions. Broadband communications open up for smart meters, and the increasing use of wind power requires a "smart grid system".