Title: Cyber security testing and intrusion detection for synchrophasor systems

Authors: Thomas Morris; Shengyi Pan; Uttam Adhikari; Nicolas Younan; Roger King; Vahid Madani

Addresses: Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA ' Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA ' Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA ' Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA ' Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA ' Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

Abstract: Synchrophasor systems are an emerging technology. Prior to installation of a synchrophasor system a set of cyber security requirements must be developed, new devices must undergo vulnerability testing, and proper security controls must be designed to protect the synchrophasor system from unauthorised access. This paper describes the process taken to develop a set of cyber security requirements for an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funded synchrophasor project. The paper further describes vulnerability analysis and testing performed on synchrophasor system components. Finally, the paper describes intrusion detection rules written as a response to vulnerabilities discovered in the vulnerability analysis and testing process.

Keywords: cyber security testing; smart grid; industrial control systems; control system security; intrusion detection; synchrophasor systems; vulnerability testing; synchronised phasors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNS.2016.073552

International Journal of Network Science, 2016 Vol.1 No.1, pp.28 - 52

Received: 07 Apr 2012
Accepted: 04 Mar 2013
Published online: 12 Dec 2015 *