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Micro-Grid Control Security Analysis: Analysis of Current and Emerging Vulnerabilities

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Book cover Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience

Abstract

Micro-grids (MG) enable autonomous operation of remote or islanded power networks such as critical infrastructure assets, but also the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) into power distribution networks coupled to a transmission system, enhancing robustness of and reducing strain on the power network. Micro-grid control technology relies heavily on networked or distributed control techniques which are exposed to cyber-security threats than conventional power networks. Consequences of security violations could manifest as loss of electrical power to critical loads or dangerous operating states; given the severity of the risks every effort should be taken to reduce exposure to vulnerabilities. This chapter reviews common MG architectures and selected system elements feeding into a structured high-level security analysis based on the Systems Theoretic Process Analysis for Security (STPA-Sec) framework to generate causal scenarios for security violations in MGs and, accordingly, to identify the priority areas for future security research in the MG domain.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematics and Information Security, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, UK

    Peter Beaumont & Stephen Wolthusen

  2. Department of Information Security and Communication Technology, Norwegian University of Science, Gjøvik, Norway

    Stephen Wolthusen

Authors
  1. Peter Beaumont
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  2. Stephen Wolthusen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Beaumont .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Informatics, Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, Greece

    Dimitris Gritzalis

  2. Directorate E. Space, Security and Migration European Commission – Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

    Marianthi Theocharidou

  3. Department of Informatics, Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, Greece

    George Stergiopoulos

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Beaumont, P., Wolthusen, S. (2019). Micro-Grid Control Security Analysis: Analysis of Current and Emerging Vulnerabilities. In: Gritzalis, D., Theocharidou, M., Stergiopoulos, G. (eds) Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00024-0_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00024-0_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-00023-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-00024-0

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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