A survey of electric power synchrophasor network cyber security

Smart grid technologies such as synchrophasors using Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), make real-time monitoring, control and data analysis of the electric power grid possible. The PMU network measures voltage and current phasors across the electrical power grid, and sends `reports' to control centers. Synchrophasor technology enables reliable and efficient power system operation; but may make the system vulnerable to cyber-attacks. In this paper, security vulnerabilities found in literature, that are relevant to PMUs, are discussed and mapped to four general attack classes. Known network security vulnerabilities are addressed in hopes of exposing gaps where further research needs to be conducted on PMU networks.