A Cyber Security Impact Analysis Framework for the Electric Smart Grid

智能电网的规模和复杂性，加上其连通性和自动化程度的提高，使得网络保护任务特别具有挑战性。最近，智能电网研究人员和标准机构制定了保护网络基础设施的技术要求和潜在解决方案。然而，由于资源的限制，网格保护仍然让资产所有者望而却步。在确定设计和保护的优先顺序时会出现重要问题：哪些网络组件如果受损，可能会导致严重的电力输送中断？哪些网格拓扑对各类网络攻击具有内在的健壮性？通过先进的网络基础设施获得的额外信息值得冒更大的安全风险吗？这项建议的目标是研究一种图论动态系统方法，用于对智能电网中网络和电力网络之间的相互作用进行建模，以确定非千篇一律的漏洞、网络攻击的相对物理影响以及潜在对策的成本-收益权衡。电力网络被建模为一个图，其中顶点表示分布式发电机、智能电子设备和负载或插电式混合电源；边表示各个顶点之间的物理和操作耦合。类似地，感知和通信(网络)网络被描绘为表示用于感知、激励和网络攻击和缓解机制的逻辑和功能交互的图。这些图方便地归纳出智能电网的动态系统描述，允许通过对网络-物理桥的动态建模来耦合网络图和电路图。建模抽象的程度是细粒度的(取决于图形顶点是如何定义的)，允许在可用时间和计算的约束下进行更广泛和更精简的评估。该范例的目标不是产生给定网络攻击的确切结果，而是说明网格组件之间的可能结果和复杂的相互关系。我们将评估我们的框架在现实建模复杂行为方面的潜力，部分通过与电力系统仿真的比较。智能优点：总体结果是一个数学工具，可以用于设计本质上安全的智能电网拓扑结构，并确定安全缓解方法的优先顺序。该团队的专业知识非常匹配，为整合信息安全和电力系统稳定概念提供了一个独特的机会，以产生及时且非常适合的智能电网安全影响分析方法。这项拟议的研究是第一次寻求一种形式化的分析方法，有可能为评估智能电网上的网络攻击和缓解策略提供分析和经验结果。对网络和电力过程进行更严密的数学建模，有可能更好地揭示构建更安全的智能电网的拓扑设计战略。此外，基于图表的范例有助于直观地将结果有效地传达给利益相关者。广泛影响：该项目将使安全智能电网技术的早期部署和长期采用成为可能，使电力市场发生革命性变化，同时促进更小的生态足迹。这项工作的结果将对电力系统升级和未来的设计产生及时和基本的影响，将传播到本科生、高中教师、研究人员、政府机构和行业。先进电力系统的网络安全教育对于培养将致力于保护国家关键基础设施的安全专业人员至关重要。通过主题项目以及本科和高中教师的研究机会，促进招募和保留多样化的学生基础。

The scale and complexity of the smart grid, along with its increased connectivity and automation, make the task of cyber protection particularly challenging. Recently, smart grid researchers and standards bodies have developed technological requirements and potential solutions for protecting cyber infrastructure. However, grid protection remains daunting to asset owners because of resources limitations. Important questions arise when identifying priorities for design and protection: Which cyber components, if compromised, can lead to significant power delivery disruption? What grid topologies are inherently robust to classes of cyber attack? Is the additional information available through advanced cyber infrastructure worth the increased security risk? The goal of this proposal is to study a graph-theoretic dynamical systems approach for modeling the interactions between the cyber and the electricity networks of the smart grid to identify non-cookie-cutter vulnerabilities, the relative physical impact of cyber attacks, and cost-benefit trade offs for potential countermeasures. The electrical network is modeled as a graph where vertices represent distributed generators, intelligent electronic devices, and loads or plug-in hybrids; edges denote physical and operative coupling amongst the respective vertices. Similarly the sensing and communication (cyber) network is depicted as a graph expressing logical and functional interactions for sensing, actuation and cyber attack and mitigation mechanisms. The graphs induce a dynamical systems description of the smart grid conveniently allowing for the coupling of cyber and electrical graphs through dynamical state modeling of the cyber-physical bridge. The degree of modeling abstraction is granular (depending on how the graph vertices are defined) allowing for both extensive and more streamlined assessment subject to available time and computation. The goal of the paradigm is not to produce an exact result of a given cyber attack, but to illustrate possible outcomes and complex interrelationships amongst grid components. We will evaluate the potential of our framework in realistically modeling complex behaviors, in part, through comparison with power system simulations.Intellectual Merit: The overall outcome is a mathematical tool that can be used to design inherently secure smart grid topologies and prioritize security mitigation approaches. The well matched expertise of the team provides a unique opportunity to integrate information security and power system stability concepts to produce a timely and well-suited smart grid security impact analysis approach. The proposed research is the first to seek a formalized analysis methodology with the potential to yield both analytic and empirical results for the assessment of cyber attacks and mitigation strategies on the smart grid. Tighter mathematical modeling of the cyber and electrical processes has the potential to shed greater light on topological design strategies for building a more secure smart grid. Furthermore, the graph-based paradigm facilitates visual representation of results effective in conveying complex interdependent insights to stakeholders.Broader Impacts: This project will enable the early deployment and long-term adoption of secure smart grid technologies, revolutionizing the electricity marketplace while facilitating a smaller ecological footprint. The results of this work will have timely and fundamental implications to power system upgrade and future design that will be disseminated to undergraduate students, high school teachers, researchers, government bodies and industry alike. Education in cyber security of advanced power systems is essentially needed to create security professionals who will work to protect the nation's critical infrastructures. Recruitment and retention of a diverse student base is facilitated through themed projects, and undergraduate and high school teacher research opportunities.