An efficient security protocol for advanced metering infrastructure in smart grid

In this article, we present a security protocol for advanced metering infrastructure in smart grid. We consider various security vulnerabilities of deploying AMI, and explore the issues related to confidentiality for user privacy and behavior as well as message authentication for meter reading and control messages. After surveying the existing security solutions in this area, we propose a new protocol, Integrated Authentication and Confidentiality (IAC), to provide efficient secure AMI communications in smart grid. With the help of IAC, an AMI system can provide trust services, data privacy, and integrity by mutual authentications whenever a new smart meter initiates and joins the smart grid AMI network. Data integrity and confidentiality are fulfilled through message authentication and encryption services, using the corresponding keys established in mutual authentications. Simulation and analytical results show that the proposed IAC protocol has better performance in terms of end-to-end delay and packet loss than a basic security scheme. Additionally, it can also facilitate efficient secure data collection and control message delivery between smart meters and a local collector for AMI communications in a smart grid.