Simulating attacks on power systems using NetSim

Electric power grid and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS)

The electric power grid (EPG) or smart grid is a critical infrastructure at high risk of cyber-attacks
At its core are cyber-physical systems (CPS), that integrate communication and computational technologies to interact seamlessly with the physical world.
Key CPS components like automated control systems, remote terminal units, PLCs, and IEDs are all connected to one another over a communication network.

Security of CPSs can be improved by using a testbed to replicate power systems operating conditions and evaluate grid operation under maliciously constructed scenarios.
Hardware testbeds are costly, inflexible, hard to scale and demand safety considerations. Software testbeds overcome these difficulties and can function as digital twins.
A software testbed generally comprises of a power system simulator and a network simulator. The former models all the power electronics devices, power transmission and distribution while the latter models the communications network.

NetSim can interface with the following:

Given below are some example attacks that can be simulated using NetSim: