Large smart metering system & security

The application of new energy resources in overall energy distribution media (such as electricity, gas, water, etc.) requires that the technical parameters of distribution networks be managed, particularly in terms of consumption. Progress in communication technology makes it possible to manage energy networks not only at the source of the media, but also at the customer´s meter, i.e. the place of final consumption. This procedure belongs to the broader framework called the “Smart Grid”. Massive flows of data are used to manage distribution networks, including the data from meters to a central location, usually the data centre, and the data from the centre to intelligent meters. Appropriate management commands must be passed on in this last direction. This shows that the implementation of such systems must include a comprehensive data protection system. Managing such a system is not a trivial matter. There are hundreds of thousands of sampling points which must be protected. In this presentation we discussed various options for data protection management under SMR (Smart Meter Reading) conditions, i.e., one part of the Smart Grid. This paper will attempt to answer questions such as: “what is the required security infrastructure for operating these systems?” and “how should the general data protection management be performed?”.