Bad practices and most frequent mistakes in IPv4 networks implementation in smart electrical and automatic systems: Cyber security in distribution smart grid

摘要

Teleinformation systems are increasingly often utilized in every branch of industry related to mass distribution of utilities, regardless of the scale and occupied market sector. The need to use ever more effective data transmission media with specific communication interfaces brought about the creation of a brand new management structure within electrical power systems called the Smart Grid. In most cases, the architecture of this system, in terms of teleinformation connectivity, is based on proven solutions from the 90s, and communication interfaces and protocols have been undergoing very dynamic development in the recent years. Integration of these two systems is often quite problematic, especially to beginner computer network administrators and automation specialists responsible for the development of a medium and low voltage electrical power grid. Despite a grid's system and components being correctly physically connected, their logical structure is often misguided and causes serious communication problems, and puts the entire system at risk of being compromised in case of an attack. The article touches upon the issues of addressing interfaces of typical electromagnetic devices available on the market, and the rules of design and segmentation of teleinformation logical networks.