Securing the Smart Grid

The 1st Edition of Research Reports International's Securing the Smart Grid report is a 25-page overview of the vulnerabilities in the electric system that the Smart Grid might introduce or exacerbate, as well as the steps that are being or should be taken by industry participants to ensure adequate security.
The electric grid is a key piece of critical infrastructure upon whose operation the economy depends. This makes it a target for foreign governments, terrorists, hackers, and disgruntled employees intent on causing damage. While the Smart Grid promises to provide a number of benefits to the electric industry and society in general, it also has the potential to make the grid more vulnerable to attack. In order to improve the security of the electric system, the implementation of the Smart Grid must be performed with a focus on protecting data and systems from outside attacks.

Securing the Smart Grid provides industry participants with an understanding of what current vulnerabilities exist in the electric grid today and how the introduction of the Smart Grid will impact those vulnerabilities. It also aims to provide the knowledge they need to help ensure that the Smart Grid is implemented in a secure manner.

The scope of the report includes an explanation of what critical infrastructure is and provides a look at how the definition of critical infrastructure has changed over time based on geopolitical considerations. The need for critical infrastructure protection is examined in terms of the threats to critical infrastructure and the impact that disruptions can have on society.

The report then looks at the importance of the energy infrastructure in relation to the economy as a whole, focusing on the interdependency between economic segments. The potential impact on the economy is highlighted by an examination of the vulnerabilities that currently exist in the electric grid with a focus on cyber threats to control systems. Common vulnerabilities that have been identified in control systems are discussed, as well as issues that exist in trying to plug security holes.

Finally, the report examines the specific security risks associated with implementation of the Smart Grid, discussing how smart meters, intelligent devices, and two-way communications can potentially introduce new vulnerabilities to the grid. An analysis of the steps that need to be taken to protect the Smart Grid follows, with a look at some of the initiatives being undertaken by government and industry to ensure that adequate security will be implemented.