Integrated project Cyber Security of energy systhems

Abstract

The digitalization of energy infrastructures is now functional to the integration of systems and supports data exchange between transmission and distribution operators, faster and more efficient network services, connections between distributed generators, between storage systems and generators, better connectivity and interaction between consumers and generators, as well as interactions between energy carriers, such as electricity, gas, water and heat networks. Furthermore, it should be considered that the “internet of electrical/digital things” introduces confidentiality requirements for personal data within the user’s operational perimeter.

This digital transformation has significantly changed the concept of energy system security. In addition to the need to preserve the adequacy and security of physical infrastructures, there has been the need to provide protection measures for OT (Operational Technology), IT (Information Technology) and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) and for data and computation privacy.

This large project, financed as part of the “Ricerca di Sistema” on the electricity sector, sees the participation of the main national research bodies (CNR, ENEA, RSE, plus the Universities of Naples Federico II, of the Sannio, La Sapienza di Roma, Roma III , Padua, Bari, Florence, Messina, Palermo and IMT of Lucca). The IRCrES contributes to the LA 1.3 activity line: Study and analysis of the observatory requirements to increase awareness of cyber threats in the energy sector. This line aims to define an information and analysis center for the problem of cyber security in the energy sector, also in cooperation with other national and European initiatives with the goal of increasing awareness of the relevance of cyber security and share best practices at European and national level. The observatory will provide useful information to all stakeholders and will be a point of aggregation of information and services.

In particular, the IRCrES working group will contribute to the objectives of the Observatory with the design and validation of a survey capable of providing data for estimating the economic value of cyber security in the electricity field. Attacks on electricity grid control computer systems can cause not only access to information and economic damage to operators, but well-crafted attacks can also – as has been demonstrated – cause disruptions in supply and even damage to facilities. The interruption of electricity supply has negative consequences for electricity operators, for the business system and for citizens. The interest in estimating the social value that citizens place on cybersecurity, which can be achieved through contingent analysis techniques, is linked to the need to increase awareness among all stakeholders on the problems of cyber security also from an economic point of view.

Ugo Finardi collaborate on the project.