Year: 2025
Type: review
Abstract: The increasing digitalization of power systems has revolutionized the functionality and efficiency of electrical protection relays. These digital relays enhance fault detection, monitoring, and response mechanisms, ensuring the reliability and stability of power networks. However, their connectivity and reliance on communication protocols introduce significant cybersecurity risks, making them potential targets for malicious attacks. Cyber threats against digital protection relays can lead to severe consequences, including cascading failures, equipment damage, and compromised grid security. This paper presents a comprehensive review of cybersecurity challenges in digital electrical protection relays, focusing on four key areas: (1) a taxonomy of cyber attack models targeting protection relays, (2) the associated risks and their potential impact on power systems, (3) existing mitigation strategies to enhance relay security, and (4) future research directions to strengthen resilience against cyber threats.
Source: Energies
DOI: 10.3390/en18143796
Institution: University of Genoa
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4413080579