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来自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。提出了四个具有凝聚力的研究方向：(I)建立统一的分析框架来描述测量攻击对大规模动态电网的影响条件。(Ii)识别非合谋群体发起的协同测量攻击的方法；(Iii)考虑网格关键响应时间的快速准确检测算法；(Iv)在网格的多个层次上采取防御策略，以阻止对关键目标的重复攻击。研究成果将在现实环境下的数字物理电网试验台上进行验证。智能优点：该项目是第一个旨在开发针对动态电网上的各种协调测量攻击的分析框架的项目之一。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制定更有效的防御机制，而且还将为其他研究团体带来关于动态系统中网络-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环境信息与系统论方法相结合的项目之一。它将产生算法工具，在电网的多个层次上整合防御努力，垂直增强电网安全，同时降低总体国防成本。广泛影响：该项目将通过电力行业的真实应用以及俄亥俄州立大学(OSU)和华盛顿州立大学(WSU)的广泛教育倡议产生变革性的影响。这两家PI都与电力公用事业公司、电力技术公司和国家实验室进行了强有力的合作，这将促进将研究成果传播到基于现实世界要求的安全解决方案中。通过利用俄亥俄州立大学和西澳州立大学的多项外联活动来强调教育。该项目还将提供一个研究生级别的课程，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.