VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation

Jordan Johnson; Brian Weber; Jared Smith; Chris Hathhorn; Philip Irminger; Savannah Norem; Jennifer Guerra; Joel Dawson; Tyler McDaniel

doi:10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462

VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation

Jordan Johnson, Brian Weber, Jared Smith, Chris Hathhorn, Philip Irminger, Savannah Norem, Jennifer Guerra, Joel Dawson, Tyler McDaniel

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

To better secure critical infrastructure, especially power systems, this paper introduces a virtual SCADA automation controller. The automation controller is a gateway into a power subsystem, making it a valuable target for cyber-attacks that could cut it off from the control center and cause a loss of view and control. To prevent this, the Virtual Automation Controller (VAC) is a backup device that mirrors the capabilities of the physical controller. It can communicate via Modbus and DNP3 and is containerized so it can be deployed on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, it utilizes software-defined networking to quickly disconnect a failed automation controller and preserve its state for forensics. The VAC gives system operators time to replace the failed controller and prevents dangerous and costly damage to power systems. The VAC is compared against the SEL 3505-3 RTAC and shown to have the necessary features to act as a failover controller.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9781665437752
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462
State	Published - 2022
Event	2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022 - New Orleans, United States Duration: Apr 24 2022 → Apr 28 2022

Publication series

Name	2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022

Conference

Conference	2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022
Country/Territory	United States
City	New Orleans
Period	04/24/22 → 04/28/22

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 IEEE.

Keywords

SCADA systems
cyber-physical systems
digital twin
security
software defined networking
substation protection

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462

Cite this

Johnson, J., Weber, B., Smith, J., Hathhorn, C., Irminger, P., Norem, S., Guerra, J., Dawson, J., & McDaniel, T. (2022). VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation. In 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022 (2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462

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title = "VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation",

abstract = "To better secure critical infrastructure, especially power systems, this paper introduces a virtual SCADA automation controller. The automation controller is a gateway into a power subsystem, making it a valuable target for cyber-attacks that could cut it off from the control center and cause a loss of view and control. To prevent this, the Virtual Automation Controller (VAC) is a backup device that mirrors the capabilities of the physical controller. It can communicate via Modbus and DNP3 and is containerized so it can be deployed on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, it utilizes software-defined networking to quickly disconnect a failed automation controller and preserve its state for forensics. The VAC gives system operators time to replace the failed controller and prevents dangerous and costly damage to power systems. The VAC is compared against the SEL 3505-3 RTAC and shown to have the necessary features to act as a failover controller.",

keywords = "SCADA systems, cyber-physical systems, digital twin, security, software defined networking, substation protection",

author = "Jordan Johnson and Brian Weber and Jared Smith and Chris Hathhorn and Philip Irminger and Savannah Norem and Jennifer Guerra and Joel Dawson and Tyler McDaniel",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 IEEE.; 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022 ; Conference date: 24-04-2022 Through 28-04-2022",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462",

language = "English",

series = "2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

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Johnson, J, Weber, B, Smith, J, Hathhorn, C, Irminger, P, Norem, S, Guerra, J, Dawson, J & McDaniel, T 2022, VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation. in 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022. 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022, New Orleans, United States, 04/24/22. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462

VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation. / Johnson, Jordan; Weber, Brian; Smith, Jared et al.
2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2022. (2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Johnson, Jordan

AU - Weber, Brian

AU - Smith, Jared

AU - Hathhorn, Chris

AU - Irminger, Philip

AU - Norem, Savannah

AU - Guerra, Jennifer

AU - Dawson, Joel

AU - McDaniel, Tyler

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - To better secure critical infrastructure, especially power systems, this paper introduces a virtual SCADA automation controller. The automation controller is a gateway into a power subsystem, making it a valuable target for cyber-attacks that could cut it off from the control center and cause a loss of view and control. To prevent this, the Virtual Automation Controller (VAC) is a backup device that mirrors the capabilities of the physical controller. It can communicate via Modbus and DNP3 and is containerized so it can be deployed on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, it utilizes software-defined networking to quickly disconnect a failed automation controller and preserve its state for forensics. The VAC gives system operators time to replace the failed controller and prevents dangerous and costly damage to power systems. The VAC is compared against the SEL 3505-3 RTAC and shown to have the necessary features to act as a failover controller.

AB - To better secure critical infrastructure, especially power systems, this paper introduces a virtual SCADA automation controller. The automation controller is a gateway into a power subsystem, making it a valuable target for cyber-attacks that could cut it off from the control center and cause a loss of view and control. To prevent this, the Virtual Automation Controller (VAC) is a backup device that mirrors the capabilities of the physical controller. It can communicate via Modbus and DNP3 and is containerized so it can be deployed on a variety of platforms. Furthermore, it utilizes software-defined networking to quickly disconnect a failed automation controller and preserve its state for forensics. The VAC gives system operators time to replace the failed controller and prevents dangerous and costly damage to power systems. The VAC is compared against the SEL 3505-3 RTAC and shown to have the necessary features to act as a failover controller.

KW - SCADA systems

KW - cyber-physical systems

KW - digital twin

KW - security

KW - software defined networking

KW - substation protection

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BT - 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Y2 - 24 April 2022 through 28 April 2022

ER -

Johnson J, Weber B, Smith J, Hathhorn C, Irminger P, Norem S et al. VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation. In 2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2022. (2022 IEEE Power and Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference, ISGT 2022). doi: 10.1109/ISGT50606.2022.9817462

VAC: A Software Approach to Resilient SCADA Automation

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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