Stuxnet and Smart Grid

Sept. 25, 2010
Stuxnet has at least two major implications for Smart Grid. The first is Smart Grid utilizes key management.  Stuxnet is one of the first cyber attacks to use compromised digital keys.  Since then, there have been at three other cyber vulnerabilities to utilize compromised digital keys. There should be a reassessment of the key management process for Smart Grid.
Stuxnet has at least two major implications for Smart Grid. The first is Smart Grid utilizes key management.  Stuxnet is one of the first cyber attacks to use compromised digital keys.  Since then, there have been at three other cyber vulnerabilities to utilize compromised digital keys. There should be a reassessment of the key management process for Smart Grid. The second is the more insidious aspect of Stuxnet that attacks control system logic.  Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and other controllers with Windows “front-ends” are utilized throughout the Smart Grid for controlling renewable resources, modern automated substations, and other grid systems. These systems can be vulnerable to Stuxnet-type attacks. Control system policies and procedures need to be developed and implemented immediately to at least minimize these types of attacks.  Joe Weiss

Sponsored Recommendations

The tiny EZminiWiFi is a godsend for the plant maintenance engineers who need to make a minor modification to the HMI program or, for that matter, the PLC program. It's very easy...
Discover the benefits of American-made automation products, including stable pricing, faster delivery, and innovative features tailored to real-world applications. With superior...
Over the past 50 years, the automation technology landscape has changed dramatically, but many of the underlying industry needs remain unchanged. To learn more about what’s changed...
Watch EZAutomation's recent feature on the popular FOX Network series "Manufacturing Marvels" and discover what makes them a force to be reckoned with in industrial automation...