Protecting Our Smarter Grid From Bullies

Contrary to what you might have heard, our power grid isn't dumber than a bag of hammers. Smart grid isn't just a few new meters and intelligent appliances. And squirrels will probably remain just as much of a threat to our grid as cybercriminals.

Curious about how security is developing as the grid gets smarter, more adaptable, and able to process more information, I spoke with the folks at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), a company based in Pullman, Washington, that specializes in communication and security products for the electric power industry.

"One of the things that’s not too obvious to the average consumer is how much technical work is going on to make sure smart grid is secure," SEL's director of cybersecurity policy Laura Hussey told me. Since no one entity can secure even the smartest grid by itself, SEL and its competitors are working with the Department of Energy on solutions.

One collaborative project called Hallmark (PDF) aims to validate device-to-device communication along the grid. SEL's "bump-in-the-wire" serial encryption devices have been around for four years to protect existing lines. For the Hallmark project, SEL is improving on this technology by adding a cryptographic card, which enables faster new product development without overburdening the microprocessors on equipment like relays and meters. In other words, the card handles the cryptography, taking the pressure off everything else. Plus, the card's cryptography protocol is being standardized by IEEE, which will allow more interoperability with other products. The secure card is expected to be completed by second quarter next year.

According to Rhett Smith, development manager in research and development at SEL, "This gives the industry an elegant upgrade path without a major system overhaul." He adds that a utility can use this tech to add security to existing equipment. New equipment will have the security integrated. At this point, I'm pretty sure that the grid is far smarter than I am. Fortunately it looks like the security will be, too.

Photo: Power lines from the ground up. Credit: Cyron.

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