Improvement of cyber-security measures in National Grid SA substation process control

Abstract

Critical infrastructure organizations depend on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) by using operational technologies developed for business systems in their daily processes. This has provided an increased opportunity for cyber attacks against the critical systems they operate. Attack sources can vary from those that are state-sponsored, terrorist, unaware or disgruntled employees, and many more. Most such incidents go unnoticed or undisclosed. The recent shutdown of Ukrainian Grid, first publicly disclosed in Electrical Grid, proves that cyber threats to electrical grids are real and no longer fictional. Cyber risks to electrical grids that run critical infrastructure such as airports and hospitals need to be seriously considered and several necessary actions must be taken to protect grid availability.