Security Challenges in Smart Grid Implementation

The smart grid architecture amalgamates the physical power grid and a communication grid into a single monolithic network. It poses several security threats that are well known (Li et al. in IEEE Trans Smart Grid 3:1540–1551, 2012 [1], McDaniel and McLaughlin in IEEE Secur Priv 7:75, 77, 2009 [2], Bisoi and Dash 2011 [3]). However, it faces unknown threats from the cyber-physical interfaces whereby either cyber-threats can lead to actuation of physical devices or vice versa if physical devices could be manipulated to disrupt the communication infrastructure. The most prevalent threats to the operation and safety of the smart grid come from physical destruction of infrastructure, data poisoning, denial of services, malware, and intrusion. The most prevalent threat to the consumer is breach of privacy of the data and malicious control of personal devices and appliances. This chapter articulates the smart grid architecture and the cyberphysical threats to which the smart grid is vulnerable. 1.1 Smart Grid Architecture