Analysis of Cyber Security Attacks on Power System Networks and its Protection Schemes

Automation and advancements in communication standards drive the transition to smart grids in the electricity sector. The prevalent adoption of IEC 61850, along with its protocols GOOSE and SV, raises security concerns for smart grids. Despite benefits, IEC 61850 lacks robust cybersecurity, evidenced by events like the 2015 Ukrainian power grid hack, necessitating urgent cybersecurity research. This study focuses on identifying communication protocol flaws in digital substation relays, exploring their impact on power grid dynamics. It concludes that targeted relay defences are independent of the attack model. The study contributes a detailed analysis of cyberattacks' effects on power system dynamics and empirically validates cyber threats on digital substations, demonstrating potential cascading failures leading to blackouts. The proposed cyber-physical experimental framework enhances cybersecurity tools, emphasizing the need for robust measures to ensure power grid stability and prevent catastrophic blackouts.