1 OVERVIEW
In the past, substation networks were traditionally isolated and the protocols and data formats used to
transfer information between devices were often proprietary.
For these reasons, the substation environment was very secure against cyber-attacks. The terms used for
this inherent type of security are:
● Security by isolation (if the substation network is not connected to the outside world, it cannot be
accessed from the outside world).
● Security by obscurity (if the formats and protocols are proprietary, it is very difficult to interpret them).
The increasing sophistication of protection schemes, coupled with the advancement of technology and the
desire for vendor interoperability, has resulted in standardisation of networks and data interchange within
substations. Today, devices within substations use standardised protocols for communication. Furthermore,
substations can be interconnected with open networks, such as the internet or corporate-wide networks,
which use standardised protocols for communication. This introduces a major security risk making the grid
vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which could in turn lead to major electrical outages.
Clearly, there is now a need to secure communication and equipment within substation environments. This
chapter describes the security measures that have been put in place for our range of Intelligent Electronic
Devices (IEDs).
Note:
Cyber-security compatible devices do not enforce NERC compliance, they merely facilitate it. It is the responsibility of
the user to ensure that compliance is adhered to as and when necessary.
This chapter contains the following sections:
Overview 275
The Need for Cyber-Security 276
Standards 277
Cyber-Security Implementation 281
Cyber-Security Settings 291
MiCOM P747 Chapter 9 - Cyber-Security
P747-TM-EN-1 275
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