Modelling physical impact of cyber attacks

Abstract

To increase reliability and remote operation capability, automated control based on SCADA systems were introduced in the electrical grid. This exposed the grid to cyber attacks which, due to the cyber-physical nature of the combined system, can cause physical damage such as power outages. This dual nature makes it hard for grid operators to evaluate the physical impacts of cyber attacks. To do so, we introduce a modification of the ICS sandbox architecture to perform impact assessment of cyber attacks. This is done by interfacing the emulated SCADA network with the PyPower electrical simulator which provides global information about the state of the electrical grid. Finally, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system, a cyber attack based on an optimal disruption experiment is run and its effects in terms of operation cost are graphed in real time.