SealedGRID: Secure and Interoperable Platform for Smart GRID Applications.

Area of Science:

• Cybersecurity
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering

Background:

• Smart grid infrastructure is vulnerable to security threats due to ICT integration.
• Access control is crucial for smart grid security, based on principles like zero-trust and segregation of duties.
• Existing access control methods may disrupt smart grid operations or lack scalability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a secure and scalable security platform for smart grids.
• To implement attribute-based access control (ABAC) policies tailored for smart grid environments.
• To ensure security, scalability, and interoperability of the smart grid without operational disruption.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel, hierarchical architecture with licensing entities for resource access management.
• Utilization of digital certificates and a web of trust for authentication.
• Integration of context-awareness modules, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data for enhanced security and data handling.

Main Results:

• Successful implementation of customized ABAC policies for smart grid resource access.
• Demonstration of a secure and scalable security platform through implementation and evaluation.
• Validation of a hierarchical architecture for managing access control within the smart grid network.

Conclusions:

• The proposed security platform effectively addresses smart grid vulnerabilities by applying tailored ABAC policies.
• The hierarchical architecture and integrated technologies ensure robust security, scalability, and interoperability.
• The SealedGRID project provides a viable solution for securing critical smart grid infrastructure.