Vulnerability assessment for communication network of Substation Automation Systems to cyber attack

The Substation Automation System (SAS) is a crucial element of power system control. The devices of SAS with remote-control functions are one of the main target of cyber attack. The vulnerability assessment for communication network of SASs that supporting the analysis of control process, is an unsolved problem. Combined with the characteristics of SAS and the vulnerability assessment of the distributed systems, a vulnerability assessment method for communication nework of SASs to cyber attack is proposed. The substation communication system has been classified into six basic models used to construct vulnerability state graph (VSG). The vulnerability of single action is defined based on exponential distribution function including parameters called vulnerability factor and equivalent attacking cost, and then the vulnerability value of target systems are calculated by four connection types of VSG. Furthermore, a vulnerability factor quantity method based on AHP-TOPSIS is designed. An evaluation instance is constructed from IEC 61850 standard, the proposed method is applicable to evaluate the vulnerability of communication network of SASs.