Enhancing the Security of Smart Grid Networks

Dear Colleagues,

With the development of the Internet of Things, big data, fog computing and other new technologies, smart grid has become the main trend in power system developments of the future. Smart grid is a highly automated digital grid. On the basis of an open system and shared information mode, it can realize the coordination and real-time interaction of various departments in the grid, as well as real-time market trading through a broadband communication system, an automatic control system and distributed intelligent equipment, so as to optimize the management and operation of the grid. Smart grid will bring great changes to people's work and lifestyle.

Smart grid uses a variety of wired and wireless technologies to achieve the communication network. However, the integration of the communication network and power system exposes its security and privacy vulnerabilities. Malicious users may invade the smart grid system, delete and modify network settings at will after intrusion, or even paralyze the smart grid system. Malicious network nodes may force legitimate smart grid nodes to provide false network services for users, accomplish illegal transactions and even steal user assets. Additionally, a huge amount of privacy information, exemplified by user’s identity and power usage habits, will always be involved in the data and signaling transmission phase. Revealing such information may greatly harm the normal lives of users in the forms of privacy snooping, advertising or even threatening users' lives. Therefore, the smart grid networks need rigorous protection solutions.

In order to enhance the security of smart grid networks, this Special Issue will invite and collect security/risk detection, analysis, assessment technology, authentication, secure data transmission and privacy preservation technologies related to the smart grid networks.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Risk analysis and assessment technology in smart grid networks;
• Access to security detection technology for service terminals in smart grid networks;
• Edge equipment security detection technology in smart grid networks;
• Network transmission security detection technology in smart grid networks;
• Security detection tools in smart grid networks;
• New access authentication protocols with privacy preservation for smart grid networks;
• Authentication and privacy protection for smart grid networks;
• Slicing security and privacy protection for smart grid networks;
• End-to-end security for smart grid networks;
• Physical layer security for smart grid networks;
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for smart grid networks.

Prof. Dr. Jin Cao
Prof. Dr. Yinghui Zhang
Prof. Dr. Maode Ma
Dr. Ruhui Ma
Guest Editors

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• smart grid networks
• risk analysis
• risk assessment
• security detection
• authentication protocol
• privacy protection
• slicing security
• physical layer security