Digitalisation requires the necessary security against cyber attacks.

Global demand for electricity continues to grow, increasing the share of renewable energy. This poses challenges in terms of frequency control and voltage stability, as well as the overall grid. Managing an electricity grid is becoming increasingly complex, requiring rapid dispatching solutions. Substations have been digitised, but this is now going much further, even to the consumer. Grid security has never been more important. Moxa offers the right solutions for achieving optimal security.

The shift to decentralised energy sources in the transformation of substations has significantly increased the frequency of dispatching. In the past, substations operated in a closed network communication mode. The integration of renewable energy sources means that these stations now require additional control mechanisms to manage dispatching effectively. This requires additional communication networks, which are more complex and open. This is precisely why there are concerns about blind spots in the cyber security of substation networks. Defence-in-depth strategies are being implemented to secure the substation's internal network from external threats.

“This involves the use of various products from the Moxa range, such as PT-G510 PRP/HSR Ethernet switches, the PT-G503 PRP/HSR Redbox, PT-G7728 IEC 61850 Ethernet switches, the DA-820C SCADA computer and secure multi-port routers of the EDR-G9010 type,” says Karel Mus of Technolec. “These products are selected for various reasons. For example, a customised firewall provides improved protection against cyber attacks. The intrusion detection system (IDS), intrusion prevention system (IPS) and GOOSE control continuously detect and manage deviations in data traffic and access. Finally, the products are also designed in accordance with the IEC 62443-4-2 standard, which also contributes to improved cyber security.”

One integrated network for demanding applications

In demanding applications, such as large data centres, semiconductor factories and hospitals, a stable power supply and efficient energy use are crucial. If the electricity at such facilities is supplied via external substations, it is necessary to manage various complex devices via a switch panel. In emergency situations, sources such as generators and UPS systems must also be activated. This means that voltage, current and equipment status must be monitored and analysed in real time. All elements are interconnected and cannot function without each other. Therefore, none of them can be neglected. A reliable network infrastructure is essential for efficient communication between devices and real-time reporting.

“Moxa products are often integrated into these challenging environments as well: the ioThinx 4510, the ioLogik E1210, the MGate 5217 and MB 3270 protocol gateways, the EDS-G4012 Ethernet switch and MDS-G4028 Core switch, and the MXview One network management software... to name but a few,” explains Karel Mus. “In such installations, multiple communication interfaces (Modbus, RS-232, fibre optic, and wireless) are integrated. Efficient communication ensures that OT data from different sources can be visualised by the DCIM system. Moxa products also have industrial features, such as EMC, and guarantee a wide temperature range and network recovery time in milliseconds, making them ideal for harsh environments. Finally, customers worldwide and in a wide range of sectors can count on the expert support of the specialist's experienced technical team and its distributors.