CYBERSECURITY OF POWER GRIDS
CYBERSECURITY OF POWER GRIDS
Central Government has taken several steps to ensure Cyber Security of the Power grid. Under the Information Technology Act, 2000, Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been designated as the national agency for responding to cyber security incidents. Further, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) has been established to
ensure protection of critical information infrastructure in the country including power sector. Computer Security Incident Response Team Power (CSIRT – Power) has been established in April, 2023 exclusively for the Power Sector. Additionally, Sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) have been setup for Thermal, Hydro, Transmission, Distribution, Grid Operation and Renewable Energy sectors.
The following key steps have been taken to improve cyber security infrastructure relating to the power grid:
As of March, 2024, 30 out of 35 State Load Despatch Centres managing the grid operations have conducted Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT) cyber security audits in the past five years (Annexure).
No such cyber security incident has been reported which affected the operations of Indian Power Grid.
Workshops, trainings, awareness sessions, conferences and cyber security exercises are being organized regularly by various agencies including NCIIPC, CERT-IN and CSIRT-Power for utilities, industry and academia to spread awareness among the stakeholders. Cyber Jaagrukta Diwas is organized on first Wednesday of every month to create cybersecurity awareness among all employees. Power sector employees are also encouraged to obtain certifications and attend courses offered by agencies such as National Power Training Institute (NPTI) and Rashtriya Raksha University.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Power, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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MJPS/SK
ANNEXURE
Grid Utilities – Status of VAPT Cyber Security Audit
Sl. No.
State/UT
SLDCs
Status (VAPT-Cyber Security Audit Done-Year)
1
Punjab
Punjab SLDC, Patiala
2021, 2022, 2023
2
Haryana
Haryana SLDC, Panipat
2021,2022, 2023
3
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh SLDC, Shimla,
2021,2022, 2023
4
J&K
J&K SLDC – Jammu
2021,2022, 2023, 2024
5
Rajasthan
Rajasthan SLDC, Jaipur
2021,2022, 2023,2024
6
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh SLDC, Lucknow
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
7
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand SLDC, Dehradun
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
8
Delhi
Delhi, SLDC New Delhi
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
9
Chandigarh
Bhakra Beas Management Board SLDC Chandigarh
2021, 2022, 2023
10
Gujarat
Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited SLDC
2022, 2023, 2024
11
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh SLDC, Raipur
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
12
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh SLDC, Jabalpur
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
13
Maharashtra
Maharashtra SLDC, Navi Mumbai
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
14
Goa
Goa SLDC, Panaji
2021, 2022, 2023
15
U.T. of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Electricity Department, Daman & Diu
2021, 2022, 2023
16
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh SLDC, Vijayawada
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
17
Karnataka
Karnataka SLDC, Bangalore
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
18
Kerala
Kerala SLDC, Kalamassery, Cochin
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
19
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu SLDC, Chennai
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
20
Telangana
Telangana SLDC, Hyderabad
2021, 2022, 2024
21
Puducherry
Puducherry SLDC, Puducherry
2022, 2024
22
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh SLDC
2022, 2023, 2024
23
Assam
Assam, SLDC, Guwahati
2022, 2023, 2024
24
Manipur
Manipur SLDC, Imphal
2022, 2023, 2024
25
Meghalaya
Meghalaya SLDC, Shillong
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
26
Mizoram
Mizoram SLDC, Mizoram
2022, 2023, 2024
27
Nagaland
Nagaland SLDC, Dimapur
28
Tripura
Tripura SLDC, Agartala
29
Bihar
Bihar SLDC, Patna
30
Jharkhand
Jharkhand SLDC, Ranchi
2020, 2022, 2023
31
West Bengal
West Bengal SLDC, Howrah
32
Orissa
Orissa SLDC, Bhubaneshwar
2021, 2022, 2024
33
DVC
DVC, SLDC, Howrah & Kolkata
2021, 2022, 2023
34
Sikkim
Sikkim SLDC, Gangtok
35
Grid Controller of India Limited (GRID-INDIA) 6 control centers
NLDC, NRLDC, SRLDC, WRLDC, ERLDC, NERLDC
2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- GRID-INDIA has established a Security Operation Centre (SOC) to monitor security events and incidents across Regional Load Despatch Centres (RLDCs) and National Load Despatch Centres (NLDC). Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of NLDC has been improved with advanced security features.
- A Security Operation Centre (SOC) has been set up in POWERGRID for 24X7 monitoring of critical assets.
- Several IT infrastructure upgrades have been performed to improve cyber security across multiple states in the past five years viz.,