Substation
Substation security with IoT means passive OT monitoring that checks communication in the grid control system and reports attacks, manipulation and technical faults in real time. Energy suppliers thereby meet the obligation to detect attacks that applies to critical infrastructure.
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Substation security: detect attacks in the control system
Substations in medium- and high-voltage grids are largely automated and communicate via protocols such as IEC 61850, GOOSE, MMS and IEC-104, which the solution examples describe as just as insecure as most industrial protocols. Firewalls block known malware but fail against unknown attack patterns, stolen credentials and malware brought into the control system on a maintenance laptop. Passive OT monitoring with anomaly detection therefore complements perimeter security. Rhebo Industrial Protector imports the IEC61850.scd file, which documents all connections, devices and functions of the substation, and thus speeds up baselining. Alerts can be forwarded to a SIEM system.
Both examples come from energy supply, in the use cases of risk management and real-time damage prevention. MEGA in Monheim am Rhein operates its own substation and several hundred local substations. Following a vulnerability assessment by Rhebo, attack detection now runs in both the operational and the redundant grid control and telecontrol systems. Within the first few weeks, outdated protocols, old firmware versions and risky factory settings were found and removed. The security team reviews anomaly alerts with Rhebo every week and is building its own OT security know-how.
Substation security: frequently asked questions
Why are substation SCADA and control systems a security risk?
Substation control systems are a risk because their protocols are barely secured. The IEC 61850 standard is based on TCP/IP and, according to Rhebo, is just as insecure as the GOOSE, MMS, SV and IEC-104 protocols it connects. As it is used more and more often in modernisation and new builds, even new substations become targets. The Industroyer malware, which caused a power outage lasting several hours at Ukrainian utility Ukrenergo in 2016, already included functions for these protocols.
How does attack detection protect a substation control system?
An attack detection system passively monitors communication in the substation control system and reports, in real time, every anomaly that points to cyberattacks, manipulation, scans or technical faults. Unlike a firewall, it also detects attacks using stolen credentials and previously unknown patterns. Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) therefore recommends a defence-in-depth approach combining signature-based perimeter security with behaviour-based network monitoring, as implemented by Rhebo Industrial Protector.
Which cyber security rules apply to substations?
The German IT Security Act requires all operators of critical infrastructure to run a comprehensive attack detection system that protects OT as well as corporate IT. The German critical infrastructure ordinance and the IT Security Act provide for special protection of stations and facilities in power grids. MEGA in Monheim am Rhein uses integrated attack detection and incident documentation to ensure compliance with NIS2 and to continuously improve its ISO 27001 information security management system.
How is OT monitoring integrated into a substation control system?
OT monitoring works passively and is integrated into the existing grid control system after a risk analysis. MEGA wanted a solution that was easy to integrate and independent of the control system manufacturer. Rhebo first assessed vulnerabilities and risks and then integrated the attack detection system into the operational and redundant grid control and telecontrol systems. Since then, the team can also see how heavily the control system is loaded at certain times and where capacity bottlenecks exist.
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