Smart Grid Information Security and Its Impact on the Survival of Electric Power System

Chen Laijun, Mei Shengwei, Chen Ying, Tsinghua University

Abstract: The current grid is bound to develop into an interdependent and complex network composed of power grid and information network. The characteristics of smart grid network composition are analyzed, and the importance of information network security in smart grid security is explained. Through smart grid information The introduction of the analysis of the main functions and features of the new elements, describes the information security issues of the smart grid from the perspectives of information collection, transmission, processing, and interaction, and anticipates the security accident scenarios under various attack conditions. The coupling characteristics and the propagation characteristics of faults between networks explore the impact of information network security on the survivability of power systems. Finally, specific recommendations for strengthening the information security of smart grids are proposed in terms of key technologies, standards systems, policies and regulations, and training management. Helps improve smart grid security.

Keywords :smart grid; power grid; information network; information security; complex network; survivability

1 Introduction

Since the introduction of the smart grid, there has not been a unified concept. Different countries and regions have developed corresponding smart grid development plans according to the characteristics of their own power grids and development needs [1–3]; different scientific institutions and scholars understand each other according to their own understanding. A smart grid with academic characteristics is described[4–7]; Different companies, as business entities involved in the construction of smart grids, delineate the functions and features that smart grids should possess from their own business scope and operating interests[8–11] .

Although the definition of the smart grid is not the same for all parties, the basic idea can be generally expressed as the digitized and informatized connection of the production, transmission, distribution, and use of electric energy, and they are linked together through intelligent control. A new generation of power systems that are “economically efficient, flexible, interactive, friendly and open, clean and environmentally friendly.” Among them, informationization is an important prerequisite for achieving the basic functions of a smart grid. With the deep penetration of information technology in power system infrastructure and advanced applications, The interdependent information network and power network will become an important part of the future smart grid [12].

It can be predicted that with the deepening of the smart grid practice, the informationization of power companies and power users will be greatly improved. For power companies, in-depth informationization brings higher production efficiency and management level to enterprises; For power users, the popularization of informatization means more economical ways of using electricity and a better user experience. However, the in-depth and widespread use of informatization brings many benefits to power companies and users, and also to intelligence. The operation safety of the power grid has buried many hidden dangers. On the one hand, the development of information technology is very rapid, and the security loopholes left over from the development of many technologies have not been effectively solved. There are even a number of undiscovered security risks [13–16]. The occurrence of major events that used information networks to attack industrial systems has caused widespread concern and concern[17–18]. On the other hand, the mechanism of mutual influence and role of information networks and power grids is not yet clear. The interdependence of the malicious attack of the composite network vulnerability is likely to cause a wide range of chain blackouts [19–21]. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the smart grid. The information security risks during the operation process and the impact of information security on the survivability of the power system are discussed from the perspective of the composite network. It should be noted that the research on smart grid information security, the author in the literature [12] has been from the complex network The perspectives are reviewed and forecasted. However, this article considers the future power grid security issues from the perspective of power information security and can be considered as a useful supplement and in-depth to the literature [12].

This article first introduced the characteristics of the network under the conditions of smart grid informatization, analyzed the security problems existing in the smart grid under the background of informatization, and anticipate the possible security accident scenarios under specific attack conditions for various types of hidden dangers. Further, discuss The impact of information network security on the survivability of power systems is discussed. Finally, feasible measures and improvement measures to improve the information security level and the survivability of power systems are discussed.

2 Network characteris-tics of smart grid

In the future, the smart grid can be regarded as a composite network composed of two interdependent networks: information network and power grid, as shown in Figure 1.

For the sake of narrative convenience, the nodes in the power network are simplified into two categories: power supply nodes and load nodes. The two are connected by transmission lines. Under the condition of two-way communication, the nodes in the information network are also simplified into two types: The information collection/instruction execution node is responsible for collecting and uploading the status information of the load and power in the control range, and performs the adjustment operation on the status of the load and the power node according to the received control instruction; the other is the information processing/instruction. The generating node is responsible for collecting and analyzing collected information and generating control instructions. The nodes in the information network are connected through optical fibers and wireless networks.

The interdependence of the power network and the information network is mainly reflected in two aspects: The normal operation of the nodes in the information network requires the adjacent power nodes in the power network to provide operating power; the security, reliability, and economic operation of the power network depend on the normalness of the nodes in the information network. jobs.

From the perspective of the size of the network, both the power grid and the information network belong to a very large-scale complex network. The literature [21] pointed out that the operational security risk of a composite network is in some cases much larger than a single complex network. From this perspective, intelligence The security of the power grid can not be ignored. Among them, the security of the information network is a top priority. The main reasons are as follows:

1) Judging from the maturity of the network development, the information network has more hidden security risks. Even in the highly developed information technology today, there are still many known security vulnerabilities in the information network that have yet to be resolved, and more will emerge. New vulnerabilities, which provide many possible channels for attacks. In contrast, attacks on the power grid often require the use of physical means, the cost of the attack is relatively high, and is limited by the weather and geographical conditions.

2) From the perspective of the interdependence in the operation process, the normal operation of the power grid is more dependent on the information network. Adjustments of the power node's output in the power grid and switching of the load node are all realized by means of the information network. If the information network is faulty or crashes, the power network is generally difficult to maintain normal operation. On the other hand, although the information network needs to support the power supply of the power network, the important information network is usually equipped with an uninterrupted power system, and the power is short-circuited. Will not have a major impact on the information network.

3) From the perspective of the propagation characteristics of network failures, information network failures are more likely to cause large-scale power outages. Because the cost of information flow is much lower than the cost of energy flow, this makes information networks more interoperable than power networks. The information flow can interact frequently within a large range. Therefore, the scope of the information network failure will be more extensive.

The network structure of the smart grid determines that its operational risk is derived from both the security of the power network and the security of the information network. Among these, the safety of the information network and the operational risks it brings to the power grid need to be heightened. Pay attention.

3 Smart grid information security

The main features of smart grid informatization can be summarized into two aspects. First, it is highly informatized for all aspects of power generation, transmission, distribution, and electricity use in traditional power systems. Second, it promotes “sales of electricity” and “receiving electricity”. Participate in the information interaction of all parties. Informatization brings many problems to the safe operation of the smart grid in the future:

1) Security in the information collection section. In the smart grid, various types of advanced sensors and metering meters will be widely used to monitor the status of the power system and power users. The highly informatized power system and user status ensures the protection of the smart grid. Safe, reliable and economical operation provides an important basis. For example, with the aid of large amounts of data collected by various types of smart meters, it is possible to assess the health status of the grid equipment and the integrity of the grid, and to warn and effectively avoid potential hazards. , You can also publish real-time electricity prices and preferential policies through smart metering to achieve communication with users and help users formulate economical electricity consumption strategies.

The smart grid of the future will eliminate all the electromagnetic meters and their reading systems. Instead, they will use intelligent solid-state meters that allow the power companies to communicate with users in both directions. For reasons of cost, smart meters generally do not add complexity. Encryption technology, which makes smart meters easier to crack and control. Once these devices are controlled, the attacker can use it to provide false electricity information to the grid, affect the grid supply; and through it to provide users with unreasonable The price information affects the user's way of using electricity. In extreme cases, it can also disconnect a large number of smart meters from the power grid, making it impossible for the grid to grasp the power consumption of the system in real time, resulting in even greater accidents.

2) The security of the information transmission link. The establishment of a high-speed, two-way, real-time, integrated communication system is the basis for implementing a smart grid. On the one hand, a large amount of data obtained from smart metering needs to be transmitted to the data processing center in a timely manner via high-speed communication networks. On the other hand, power companies also need to publish electricity price information and related preferential policies in real time through communication systems. Compared with traditional grids, the number of devices that need to be monitored and controlled in smart grids is more widely distributed. With real-time monitoring, the low-cost wireless communication network and the widely-distributed public Internet will occupy more and more proportion in the smart grid communication system. Through the wireless network and the public Internet, a multi-channel redundant communication network can be easily constructed. In order to achieve reliable communications, however, a large number of accesses to the public network in the power system provide more entrance for malicious attacks. As the security standards for wireless networks are still in the early application stage, there are many security vulnerabilities that have been exposed. It has not been properly resolved. The security of information transmission needs to be further Improvement [13] pointed out that only a cost of around US$70 can be used to initiate a denial of service attack based on the IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor network. In addition, for professional attackers, the multi-entry public Internet environment is initiated. More coordinated attacks provide possibilities, which will bring greater harm to the power grid and users.

3) The security of intelligent control From the grid side, the intelligent control system can use the collected information to analyze, diagnose and predict the status of the power grid, and take appropriate measures to adjust the operating status of the power grid in time. Operation is in a safe, reliable, and economical state; From the user's perspective, home appliances with embedded smart control technology, such as water heaters, air conditioners, and electric vehicles, can automatically adjust the electricity usage plan according to the grid status, thereby realizing The economic benefits. In addition, public electricity applications, such as bus charging stations, office buildings, etc., can also reduce the overall electricity cost through intelligent coordination between the electricity consumers. However, the prerequisite for successful application is smart appliances. The right to control is used correctly. If the security of information exchange between smart appliances is not secure, it is very likely to be used by attackers. Not only does the appliance not work properly, but it is very likely that the control of a large number of appliances is acquired by the attacker. Used to form a large-scale impact on the grid load.

4) Security in Grid and User Interaction Environments One of the important features of smart grids is to encourage users to participate in the interaction between the grid and the user. The grid can better balance supply and demand by integrating users into the operation and management of the power system. The relationship improves the reliability and economical efficiency of the system operation. The user develops a scientific method of electricity consumption based on its electricity demand and the current state of the power system, so as to obtain economic benefits. This interactive process makes the user's electricity consumption subject to The impact of the system state is also becoming more and more widespread. Professional attackers can use the interactive process to cause greater damage to the power system. For example, the information network sends false low-price information to the user side, causing a large number of intelligent loads, such as the charging of electric vehicles. Stations, smart water heaters, and smart air conditioners, etc., have caused overloading of the system at the same time. At the same time, by controlling the sensor network to submit counterfeit low-load information to the grid side, the grid will reduce the power supply, thus stabilizing the power system and the user's electricity consumption. Safety causes great harm.

5) Other security issues. For the needs of information exchange, individual privacy of each household's electricity load, equipment composition, and power consumption rules will appear on the information network. At the same time, the need for electricity marketization makes the power companies real-time electricity prices. Important information such as policies will also be transmitted on the Internet. These information may be intercepted by criminals, altered or even used for other illegal purposes.

4 Information security and power system survivability

In general, survivability refers to the ability of the system to complete tasks in a timely manner when it is attacked, fails, or has an accident. [22]. In the future, the smart grid will evolve from a macro point of view into an information network and power grid. The complex interactive network. In the event of internal system failures, malicious attacks, and natural disasters, it can lead to the collapse of the power grid and cause widespread power outages. Therefore, in order to ensure the safe operation of the power system, not only must the power system be controlled and eliminated. The hidden dangers brought about by new information elements, but also from the system integrity point of view, the system's partial failure or the survival of the entire system after being attacked.

The impact of information security on the survivability of power systems is mainly reflected in the following two aspects:

1) Strong coupling of functions between networks. On the one hand, widely distributed information networks need their associated power networks to provide them with operating power. On the other hand, the realization of almost all functions in power networks requires the use of information networks to provide Services. The strong coupling of power grids and information networks makes large power outages more likely to occur. For example, by attacking key nodes in the information network, the critical power plants in the corresponding power network are shut down or important power lines appear. Overloading can cause the power node corresponding to the information node to fail. In other words, under the conditions of the smart grid, the faults between the information network and the power network can be transformed. Since the information network currently has many known security holes, it can be used to initiate There are many entrances to attacks, and they are not affected by factors such as time, place, and weather. The cost is low and the means of attack are more subtle. As a result, the harm to the power system is also greater. Therefore, the future form of attack on the smart grid It is very likely that from the traditional direct attack on the physical power system to the corresponding information system Systematic attack.

2) Propagation of faults between networks. At present, there are many achievements in the study of cascading failures in power systems. However, the research objects are mostly limited to faults that propagate within power systems. In smart grids where information networks and power grids are interdependent, faults occur. There are more possibilities for the form of communication. For two networks that are interdependent, when one of the nodes in one network fails, it will trigger the failure of the relevant node in the other network. With this process in two In networks alternately, the number of failed nodes will rapidly increase, and the network will have a large area of ​​failure, which will eventually lead to the collapse of the entire network. It is worrying that the future smart grid will provide a good platform for the transmission of faults between networks. It is pointed out that the complexity characteristics of interdependent networks and single networks are also very different. For example, for a single network, the more even the degree distribution of the network, the more robust it is to random failures, and for interdependent networks. The more even the degree distribution of the network is, the more vulnerable it is to random failures. This shows that for a smart grid composed of interdependent networks, its internal The condition of obstacle propagation is also very different from the single power network in previous studies. It should be pointed out that the two sub-networks forming the composite network in [21] all adopt the stochastic model, but for the smart grid For a specific composite network, the information networks are mostly scale-free networks, and the power networks are mostly small-world networks. Once a chain network failure occurs, the whole network is more likely to crash.

5 Suggestions and Countermeasures

1) Strengthen research on information security technologies. The information security of smart grids needs to be strengthened from the collection, transmission, processing, and interaction of information. Research on data encryption, storage, and transmission for smart instrument data acquisition and storage; Research on security transmission protocols and firewall technologies and security authentication technologies in wired networks; Improve network, information security early warning, notification, monitoring and emergency response platforms to form an effective security technology protection system.

2) Formulate an information security standard system. At present, foreign research on the smart grid information security standard system has taken the lead. While strengthening research on foreign related safety standards and drawing on advanced research results, we should also understand both The actual situation of the power grid, and the information security expert group also scientifically planned the information security standard system in China, and guided the development of the information security standard system. At the same time, it is necessary to promote the rational deployment and implementation of information security standards in the industry. , it is expected to avoid the large number of security risks introduced by the disorderly construction of smart grid.

3) Improve related policies and regulations. The construction of smart grid involves many participants such as government, users, power companies, IT companies and equipment manufacturers. The government needs to formulate reasonable policies based on the role of participating parties in the smart grid. By promulgating policies that stipulate the responsibilities and obligations that all parties should assume, at the same time, they must formulate corresponding laws and regulations to regulate the behavior of all involved parties, and effectively protect the privacy of users and the security of key information of power companies, so that the construction and operation of smart grids will become more scientific. Orderly.

4) Establish an information security training system. For most users, information security is still a very complicated concept. As the user is the most involved person in the smart grid, the level of security awareness directly affects the overall smart grid operation. The level of safety. Therefore, a sound information security training system is an important guarantee for improving information security in smart grids.

5) Strengthen research on interdependent network-related theories. As mentioned above, comprehensively grasping the behavioral characteristics of interdependent networks is a prerequisite for preventing future blackouts from occurring in smart grids. Therefore, many key scientific issues need to be studied and resolved. Mathematical description model of the static and dynamic characteristics of interdependent networks; Theory and analysis methods of fault propagation in interdependent networks; Index evaluation system of vulnerability, reliability, etc. of interdependent networks. In addition, power networks and information networks in different countries and regions The level of development and the characteristics of the network are also not the same. It is necessary to model and analyze the actual situation.

6 Conclusion

In the future, the smart grid as a whole can be viewed as an interdependent network composed of power grids and information networks. The security of information networks and the risks to the operation of power systems cannot be ignored. This paper analyzes the future network structure of smart grids. The characteristics clarified the importance of information network security for smart grid security. From the aspects of information collection, transmission, and interaction, the information security issues of smart grids were analyzed. Further, combined with the characteristics of interdependent networks, the security of information networks was analyzed. The impact of smart grid security. From the aspects of the research of key technologies, the development of technical standards and the improvement of policies and regulations, some suggestions for improving the safety of smart grids are proposed.

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