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In this paper, we present the design and implementation of a cyber-physical security testbed for networked electric drive systems, aimed at conducting real-world security demonstrations. To our knowledge, this is one of the first security testbeds for networked electric drives, seamlessly integrating the domains of power electronics and computer science, and cybersecurity. By doing so, the testbed offers a comprehensive platform to explore and understand the intricate and often complex interactions between cyber and physical systems. The core of our testbed consists of four electric machine drives, meticulously configured to emulate small-scale but realistic information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) networks. This setup both provides a controlled environment for simulating a wide array of cyber attacks, and mirrors potential real-world attack scenarios with a high degree of fidelity. The testbed serves as an invaluable resource for the study of cyber-physical security, offering a practical and dynamic platform for testing and validating cybersecurity measures in the context of networked electric drive systems. As a concrete example of the testbed’s capabilities, we have developed and implemented a Python-based script designed to execute step-stone attacks over a wireless local area network (WLAN). This script leverages a sequence of target IP addresses, simulating a real-world attack vector that could be exploited by adversaries. To counteract such threats, we demonstrate the efficacy of our developed cyber-attack detection algorithms, which are integral to our testbed’s security framework. Furthermore, the testbed incorporates a real-time visualization system using InfluxDB and Grafana, providing a dynamic and interactive representation of networked electric drives and their associated security monitoring mechanisms.
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Cybersecurity threats and experimental testbed for a generator system
In this work, a high-fidelity virtual testbed modeling a networked diesel generator, similar to those used commercially and by the military, is described. This testbed consists of a physical system model of a generator, a digital control system, a remote monitoring system, and physical and networked connections. The virtual testbed allows researchers to emulate a cyber-physical system and perform cyber attacks against the system without the monetary and safety risks associated with a testbed created from physical components. The testbed was used to feasibly simulate network, hardware Trojan, and software Trojan attacks against the diesel generator, and to observe the cyber and physical outcomes.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1753900
- PAR ID:
- 10642703
- Publisher / Repository:
- SAGE
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology
- Volume:
- 19
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1548-5129
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 23 to 35
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1548512920960537
