ISU works to prevent electric grid terrorism
BUSINESS RECORD STAFF Jan 25, 2016 | 8:59 pm
1 min read time
173 wordsAll Latest News, Energy, Innovation and EntrepreneurshipTwo Iowa State University professors are leading studies intended to prevent terrorists from hacking and disrupting the nation’s power grids.
Doug Jacobson, a university professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Manimaran Govindarasu, the Ross Martin Mehl and Marylyne Munas Mehl Computer Engineering Professor, also are training industry professionals and educating students on how to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure.
The threat of a cyberattack that would rob areas of power is a growing concern. Last month, hackers knocked out dozens of Ukraine’s power substations, blacking out more than a hundred cities and partially blacking out nearly 200 more.
The professors are trying to develop a high-fidelity, open-access set of tests to help secure the power grid. Included are checks of vulnerability, a risk assessment and attack defense evaluations.
“We can use this testbed to run attacks and see the consequences on the power system,” Govindarasu said. “If it’s a blackout, how do we mitigate that? We can also prepare for these attacks and for our defenses.”
Read the full news release.
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