On demand for situational awareness for preventing attacks on the smart grid

Abstract

Renewable energy sources and widespread small-scale power generators change the structure of the power grid, where actual power consumers also temporarily become suppliers. Smart grids require continuous management of complex operations through utility providers, which leads to increasing interconnections and usage of ICT-enabled industrial control systems. Yet, often insufficiently implemented security mechanisms and the lack of appropriate monitoring solutions will make the smart grid vulnerable to malicious manipulations that may possibly result in severe power outages. Having a thorough understanding about the operational characteristics of smart grids, supported by clearly defined policies and processes, will be essential to establishing situational awareness, and thus, the first step for ensuring security and safety of the power supply.