BDEW White Paper in practice: IT security in the secondary systems

The extensive use of automation systems for monitoring / controlling hundreds of thousands of devices for the production, transport and distribution of energy is a result of the growth of the renewable energy sector in Germany. Exchange of data between field units and central control centers will be carried out on IP-based infrastructure. Those units are a new part of the critical infrastructure in terms of IT security. This paper provides a practical insight into the implementation of IT security mechanisms for remote terminal units and SCADA systems (secondary equipment) in accordance with the BDEW white paper "Requirements for Secure Control and Telecommunication Systems" [1]. It also presents an evaluation of a variety of tools, protocols and procedures in terms of technical and organizational feasibility.