Collaborative Research: Defense against Measurement Attacks on the Power Grid

随着电网越来越依赖信息和通信技术的连通性，这一关键基础设施面临着网络攻击的重大威胁。在各种网络攻击中，测量攻击通过伪造测量来操纵控制命令来实现目标。提出了四个有凝聚力的研究重点：（i）一个统一的分析框架，以表征测量攻击对大规模动态电网的影响条件。(ii)方法，以确定从非串通团体发起的协调测量攻击，（iii）快速和准确的检测算法，考虑到关键的响应时间的网格，和（iv）防御策略，在多个层次的网格，以阻止重复攻击的关键目标。研究结果将在现实环境中的网络物理电网测试台上进行验证。智力优势：该项目是第一个旨在为动态电网上的各种协调测量攻击开发分析框架的项目。它将解决在现实环境中识别攻击目标和拦截潜在威胁的重要挑战。该框架不仅使我们能够为电网开发更有效的防御机制，而且还为其他研究社区带来了动态系统中网络物理因果链的重要见解。该项目也是少数几个将网络保护能力和网格上下文信息与系统理论方法统一起来的项目之一。更广泛的影响：该项目将通过在电力行业的实际应用以及在俄亥俄州州立大学（OSU）和华盛顿州立大学（WSU）的广泛教育计划产生变革性的影响。这两个PI都与电力公司、电力技术公司和国家实验室有着密切的合作，这将有助于将研究成果传播到基于现实世界需求的安全解决方案中。通过利用俄勒冈州立大学和华盛顿州立大学的多种外联活动来强调教育。该项目还将产生一门研究生课程，并向全国各机构提供几个在线教育模块。

As the power grid becomes increasingly dependent on connectivity through information and communications technology, this critical infrastructure faces significant threats from cyber attacks. Among various cyber attacks, measurement attacks achieve goals by falsifying measurements to manipulate control commands. Four cohesive research thrusts are proposed to develop: (i) a unified analytical framework to characterize the impact conditions of measurement attacks on the large-scale, dynamic power grid. (ii) methods to identify coordinated measurement attacks that are launched from non-collusive groups, (iii) fast and accurate detection algorithms considering critical response time of the grid, and (iv) defense strategies at multiple levels of the grid to deter repetitive attacks at critical targets. The research results will be validated on a cyber-physical power grid test bed in realistic settings. Intellectual Merit: This project is among the first aiming to develop an analytical framework for diverse coordinated measurement attacks on the dynamic power grid. It will address important challenges of identifying attack goals and intercepting potential threats in realistic settings. This framework will not only enable us to develop more effective defense mechanisms for the power grid, but also bring important insights of cyber-physical causal chains in dynamic systems to other research communities. This project is also among the few that unify the cyber-protection capabilities and grid context information with system-theoretic approaches. It will result in algorithmic tools that integrate the defense efforts on multiple levels of the grid, vertically enhancing grid security while reducing the overall defense cost.Broader Impacts: This project will entailer transformative impact through real-world applications in the power industry and extensive educational initiatives at Ohio State University (OSU) and Washington State University (WSU). Both PIs have strong collaborations with power utilities, power technology companies, and national laboratories, which will facilitate the dissemination of research outcomes into security solutions based on real-world requirements. Education is emphasized by leveraging multiple outreach activities at OSU and WSU. This project will also result in one graduate level course, and several online education modules to be made available to institutions nationwide.