FedAvg-P: Performance-Based Hierarchical Federated Learning-Based Anomaly Detection System Aggregation Strategy for Advanced Metering Infrastructure

Abstract

Advanced metering infrastructures (AMIs) aim to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and stability of electrical systems while offering advanced functionality. However, an AMI collects copious volumes of data and information, making the entire system sensitive and vulnerable to malicious attacks that may cause substantial damage, such as a deficit in national security, a disturbance of public order, or significant economic harm. As a result, it is critical to guarantee a steady and dependable supply of information and electricity. Furthermore, storing massive quantities of data in one central entity leads to compromised data privacy. As such, it is imperative to engineer decentralized, federated learning (FL) solutions. In this context, the performance of participating clients has a significant impact on global performance. Moreover, FL models have the potential for a Single Point of Failure (SPoF). These limitations contribute to system failure and performance degradation. This work aims to develop a performance-based hierarchical federated learning (HFL) anomaly detection system for an AMI through (1) developing a deep learning model that detects attacks against this critical infrastructure; (2) developing a novel aggregation strategy, FedAvg-P, to enhance global performance; and (3) proposing a peer-to-peer architecture guarding against a SPoF. The proposed system was employed in experiments on the CIC-IDS2017 dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system can be used to develop a reliable anomaly detection system for AMI networks.