A co-simulation environment for integrated cyber and power systems

Due to the development of new power technologies, cyber infrastructures have been widely deployed for monitoring, control, and operation of a power grid. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) provides connectivity of the cyber and power systems. As a result, cyber intrusions become a threat that may cause damages to the physical infrastructures. Research on cyber security for the power grid is a high priority subject for the emerging smart grid environment. A cyber-physical testbed is critical for the study of cyber-physical security of power systems. For confidentiality, measurements (e.g., voltages, currents and binary status) and ICT data (e.g., communication protocols, system logs, and security logs) from the power grids are not publicly accessible. Therefore, a realistic testbed is a good alternative for study of the interactions between physical and cyber systems of a power grid.