Cybersecurity in Power Grids: Challenges and Opportunities

Sensors, vol. 21, pp. 6225

Abstract

Increasing volatilities within power transmission and distribution force power grid operators to amplify their use of communication infrastructure to monitor and control their grid. The resulting increase in communication creates a larger attack surface for malicious actors. Indeed, cyber attacks on power grids have already succeeded in causing temporary, large-scale blackouts in the recent past. In this paper, we analyze the communication infrastructure of power grids to derive resulting fundamental challenges of power grids with respect to cybersecurity. Based on these challenges, we identify a broad set of resulting attack vectors and attack scenarios that threaten the security of power grids. To address these challenges, we propose to rely on a defense-in-depth strategy, which encompasses measures for (i) device and application security, (ii) network security, and (iii) physical security, as well as (iv) policies, procedures, and awareness. For each of these categories, we distill and discuss a comprehensive set of state-of-the art approaches, as well as identify further opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity in interconnected power grids.

Authors 4

1. Raphael Ernst

   Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft · Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics

   Affiliation as printed

   Cyber Analysis & Defense, Fraunhofer FKIE, 53343 Wachtberg, Germany

   Fraunhofer Society

2. Benedikt Klaer Aachen High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University · Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft · Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Digital Energy, Fraunhofer FIT, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalisation and Power Economics, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   Fraunhofer Society

3. Immanuel Hacker Aachen High Voltage Equipment and Grids

   RWTH Aachen University · Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft · Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Digital Energy, Fraunhofer FIT, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   High Voltage Equipment and Grids, Digitalisation and Power Economics, RWTH Aachen University, 52056 Aachen, Germany

   Fraunhofer Society

4. Martin Henze

   Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft · Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics

   Affiliation as printed

   Cyber Analysis & Defense, Fraunhofer FKIE, 53343 Wachtberg, Germany

   Fraunhofer Society