Infrastructure Security and Resilience
Protecting the Modern Power Grid From Cyber and Physical Threats
The power grid has vulnerabilities that can be exploited by human-caused and natural events. INL plays a leading role in protecting the modern power grid from cyber and physical threats. INL’s innovative technology solutions include intelligent sensors that enhance the resilience and security of the smart grid, secure control systems that reduce the threat of cyberattacks, and physical devices and barriers that protect substations and transformers from geomagnetic disturbance and ballistic attacks.
Capabilites
Power Grid Transformation
INL researchers and engineers provide ongoing DOE support for grid security and modernization programs and projects.
Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) INL has developed to protect the modern power grid from cyber and physical threats include.
Infrastructure Resilience Analysis
Critical infrastructure analysis enables stakeholders to improve resilience and disaster preparation through assessment, dependency analysis and visualization, mapping, and geospatial analysis. Some examples of tabletop exercises and risk management tools include:
- Malcolm – Open-source ICS Network Analysis Tool
- Storm-DEPART – A severe weather prediction and recovery tool
- Marine Domain Awareness Tool (M-DAT) – A rapid decision-making resource for maritime infrastructure emergencies.
Center for Securing the Digital Energy Transition
The Center for Securing Digital Energy Transition provides building blocks and resources to enable the secure resilient digital transformation of energy. By elevating cybersecurity practices and improving overall system integrity, we strive for a system that can survive major events and thrive in enabling clean, affordable and secure supply of energy.
Modeling and Simulation Tools
Researchers use the Real Time Digital Simulator, a physics-based simulator that enhances the security of the nation’s electric power grid and related control systems including supervisory control and data acquisition systems. Engineers use it to visualize the effects of power grid failures.
- All Hazards Analysis (AHA)
- Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) – Open-source assessment software for asset owners.
- Cybersecurity Operational Research, Experimentation, Innovation, and Integration (COREII) – Aligns and integrates OT cybersecurity research
- Modeling and Simulation for Target Electrical Resilience and Reliability Improvements (MASTERI) – Integrated grid resilience modeling suite to analyze power utility systems and improve grid resilience.
Mathematically Formalized Assurance for National Security
Mathematically Formalinized Assurance for National Security (MFANS) aims to use formal methods to close the gap between model and implementation. Bridging this “model-implementation divide” improves the resiliency of critical systems against sophisticated adversaries.
Full-scale Critical Infrastructure Testing
The nation’s electric power grid consists of thousands of miles of high-voltage power lines, substations, distribution transformers, and millions of miles of low-voltage power lines providing electricity to homes, businesses and communities.
Industrial control systems are at the heart of this network, controlling the flow of power and regulating safety and reliability.
