An electric power digital twin for cyber security testing, research and education. (July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kandasamy, Nandha Kumar; Venugopalan, Sarad; Wong, Tin Kit; Leu, Nicholas Junming
• Is Part Of: Computers & electrical engineering. Volume 101(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-07
• Subjects: Cyber Physical System -- Smartgrid -- Security -- Digital twin -- Test-bed; Computer engineering -- Periodicals; Electrical engineering -- Periodicals; Electrical engineering -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Ordinateurs -- Conception et construction -- Périodiques; Électrotechnique -- Périodiques; Électrotechnique -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Computer engineering; Electrical engineering; Electrical engineering -- Data processing; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.302854
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compeleceng.2022.108061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-7906

Abstract

Abstract: Cyber–Physical Systems (CPS) rely on communication and control technologies to efficiently manage devices in the system. However, a wide variety of potential security challenges has emerged due to the evolution of critical infrastructures (CI) from siloed sub-systems into integrated networks, including smart grid (SG). SG security studies are carried out on physical test-beds to train and test cyber attacks in a safe/controlled environment. However, it has limitations w.r.t modifying physical configuration and scalability. To overcome these shortcomings, we built a digital power twin for a physical test-bed that is used for cyber security studies on SGs. The twin enable users to deploy real world attacks and countermeasures, and study its effectiveness. In the twin users may easily modify the components and configurations unlike in a physical test-bed. Further, reproducing the twin for advancing the research is significantly cheaper. We illustrate the typical use case with an example case study. Graphical abstract: Highlights: A comprehensive architecture for digital twin for cyber security studies is presented, with an example implementation for an actual plant. The architecture can be used reproduce any functional plant with minimal cost and is scalable. The digital twin architecture allows the researchers to geographically separate the physical system and control network simulation. The digital twin architecture includes provisions for attack designer and launcher for systematically launching attacks on the twin for evaluating potential intrusion detection systems.