The main goal of IoTSec is a reliable and efficient, uninterrupted power network with dynamic configuration of system and security properties. It addresses the needs of businesses and end users of additional IoT services by exploring use cases for value-added services. The project will design the building blocks for future services that consider the necessary security and privacy preconditions of successfully deployed large-scale services, build a robust cluster of research on security in IoT for Smart Grids, and create an industrial Smart Grid Security Centre co-located with the NCE Smart. The main aim is to contribute to a secure and privacy-aware ecosystem for the Internet of Things.

To go to the project home page click here http://iotsec.no

NR's contributions

NR contributes to researching and developing adaptive security that will address the protection of "IoT-based smart grids” against evolutionary threats and attacks through the prediction and advanced behavioural analysis of big-data from IoT Smart Grids. The adaptive security methodology addresses threats by increasing awareness and automating prevention, detection, and recovery from the failures of security and privacy protections at runtime. A combination of evolutionary game theory and distributed behavioural analysis will be used to achieve this goal. Optimized machine learning will be used to improve the accuracy of prediction.

Benefit for participants

• consolidating Information Security as a key topic
• building robust, secure and privacy-aware services
• using user/technology and risk management
• driving the acceptance of Smart Grids through security and privacy
• creating a scientific cluster of international excellency

Benefit for society

The planned roll-out for smart meters in Norway by 2019 is preparing the ground for local electricity production and a complete new prosumer centric electricity market, allowing for full integration with micro-scale renewable energy sources and a greener energy market. In addition to this positive environmental impact on the society, it will also increase the stability of the power grid, add efficiency in supply and lay the ground for other value-added services.

The project will contribute to the security of such systems, which is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of a real Smart Grid in Norway. Such security should be implemented at a high communication layer, typically requiring a gateway per household, so that several services can use the same security solution. Installing it together with a smart-meter will save about NOK 7,000-8,000 per household or about NOK 16-18b for the society.

In addition, the Internet of Things by itself is seen as one of the main drivers for innovation in the society. DNV-GL pointed out that sensors will drive the automated data management, and thus the change from passive data to automated decisions by 2020 [1]. Security in IoT is the key issue for business development, as trust and privacy-aware handling of data and information are required for multi-partner interactions. The societal benefits of IoT services are even more significant. Cost calculations done by D'Angelantonio and Oates indicate the costs for technology-assisted living are only 2-5% as compared to elderly institutions, and 0.5-1% of hospital costs [2].

The scientific research and the applicability in the novel Security Centre for Smart Grid will also be of fundamental importance for the exchange of information between service providers. Reliable information is the basis for automated processes, as well as innovative services for the society.

References

[1] “Technology Outlook 2020”, DNV, Dec 2013,  www.dnv.com/moreondnv/research_innovation/foresight/outlook

[2] Marco D'Angelantonio, John E. Oates, Is Ambient Assisted Living the Panacea for Ageing Population?, IOS Press, Jan 2013, p72