Hardware Reverse Engineering for Secure Smart Grids

Abstract

Industry 5.0 and smart grid technologies are mutually dependent and synergistic. They complement each other by leveraging advanced digital capabilities to enhance energy efficiency, integrate renewable energy sources, and improve the resilience and reliability of industrial operations and electricity distribution systems. With the mounting threat of cyberattacks targeting digital supply chains, including those of the smart grid, it is evident that vendors, service providers, and outsourced Information and Communication Technology (ICT) providers face equal susceptibility to exploitation by malicious actors. Since all security measures hinge on dependable hardware, comprehending the origins of hardware vulnerabilities in Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs), a key component in smart grid systems, is imperative. Given the extended nature of digital supply chains, often involving components from various manufacturers, it is equally important to adopt novel approaches and methodologies to verify that IEDs are as secure as required. Integrating a Hardware Reverse Engineering business subprocess into the equipment procurement process offers a promising avenue for enhancing the cybersecurity and the cyber resilience of the digital supply chain of smart grid operators. This chapter proposes such a process and outlines a use case involving a specific IED commonly employed in digital substations in the smart grid.