Smart grid cyber security: A German perspective

Cyber security is an important issue in modern smart grid technology. As the smart grid is literally a network of networks, manifold potential vulnerabilities appear that allow privacy- and security-attacks within the whole energy chain, e.g. generation, transmission, distribution and consumption. Therefore, in order to achieve full customer acceptance and to ensure the stability of the current supply, all components of a smart grid communication network have to be highly secure and meet challenging privacy requirements. Scores of scientific and governmental efforts exist to make smart grid technology secure with respect to potential cyber-attacks. Nevertheless, standardization is mandatory to ensure sophisticated security mechanisms through the whole network. This paper focuses on the work of smart grid security aspects on the low voltage segment within the German power grid. Evolving security standards are discussed against the background of potential vulnerabilities and it is emphasized, where additional effort is necessary to ensure privacy and security in the smart grid.