Cybersecurity Strategies for Smart Grids

Abstract

The incorporation of information and communication technologies (ICT) into power grids has brought a new generation in energy management, known as smart grids. This digital transformation has also raised new challenges to cybersecurity. This chapter presents the architecture and cybersecurity interplay within smart grids, highlights the need to secure critical infrastructure, and outlines the security requirements and the importance of availability, integrity, and confidentiality. Also, it discovers potential cyber-threats and vulnerabilities inherent in smart grids and analyzes historical incidents to provide insight into real-world implications. Moreover, the strategies for safeguarding smart grids components, such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and industrial control systems (ICS), are discussed, alongside a unified framework to address privacy concerns. Finally, the chapter predicts future trends, identifies pioneering issues, and draws tracks for continuous research and development to strengthen smart grids' resilience against evolving threats.