4 Types of Cyber-Attacks on the Smart Grid That Can Endanger Energy Security

and solutions how these attacks can be prevented and mitigated

The smart grid connects different parts of the energy system but is also vulnerable to cyber attacks (credit: metamorworks on Shutterstock)

Credit: This article is based on the scientific article “Smart Grid Cyber Security Enhancement: Challenges and Solutions — A Review” by Turki Alsuwian, Aiman Shahid Butt, and Arslan Ahmed Amin (Full citation and link available at the end of the article)

Digitalization is gaining more and more attention as a way to support in the energy transition. Digitalization means starting to use digital technologies for existing processes. The energy transition is the shift in technologies and behaviors that we need to move away from fossil fuels as the main energy source to more environmentally friendly renewable sources such as wind and solar energy. Digitalization can help obtain more detailed measurements and real-time data on energy use. This data can help make better predictions, for example how energy use will develop, and better decisions, for example, how many renewable energy plants are built to cover demand.

For example, digitalization is an important aspect of the smart grid. The grid is the interconnected network that makes electricity delivery from producers to consumers possible. It is an important backbone of many societies. A smart grid uses digitalization…