Cybersecurity in Smart Grid Power Systems: Architecture, Threats, and Advanced Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

The transition from traditional, analog electrical power grids to advanced Smart Grids (SGs) represents one of the most significant and complex infrastructural evolutions of the twenty-first century. Often described as the next-generation power system, the smart grid is considered both a revolutionary and evolutionary regime that integrates advanced computing, distributed intelligence, sensing, and communication technologies into existing electrical infrastructure. This transformation fundamentally shifts the grid from a centralized, unidirectional power delivery mechanism into a highly distributed, bidirectional, and intelligent ecosystem. By establishing real-time data exchange between numerous intelligent grid elements, utility providers, and consumers, smart grids dramatically optimize energy efficiency, enable the seamless integration of renewable energy sources, and support advanced transactive energy systems and demand response programs.