Date of Award

6-8-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Kenneth M. Hopkinson, PhD

Abstract

As utility companies develop and incorporate new technologies, such as moving to utility Internet technology based architecture and standard; it is crucial that we do so with history in mind. We know that traditional utility protection and control systems were not designed with security in their top priorities. This presents a danger in an environment where near real-time responses are required to ensure safe operations. As a consequence, system security becomes a burden to the system rather than necessary protection. Unfortunately, technology implementation is not the only concern. The number of utility privately-owned companies has multiplied as the market has moved to a deregulated market in an effort to fragment the traditional monopolies that ruled the industry. Additionally, as new technologies replace or are coupled with legacy systems; new risks to our national assets are incorporated. We have to keep in mind recent events that have proven that our nation is vulnerable to attacks that could severely hinder our economy. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. The conditions under which these systems operate make it almost impossible to make updates, replace components, or whole systems, without endangering normal operations due to malfunctions, installation and calibration errors, or immature technology. This research proposes an alternate method to do this technology merger safely. This method uses new concepts, such as the trust system and power grid compartmentalization to dramatically increase protection of the network. The great benefit of this method is that it can be implemented gradually. During this thesis, we will trans- form a SCADA network compartmentalization problem and a trust system strategic placement problem into an optimization problem, by methodically designing a mathematical model and later applying linear programming algorithms and techniques to solve it.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GCS-ENG-09-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA502123

Download

Share

COinS