@article {alcaraz2013b, title = {WASAM: A Dynamic Wide-Area Situational Awareness Model for Critical Domains in Smart Grids}, journal = {Future Generation Computer Systems}, volume = {30}, year = {2014}, pages = {146-154}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

Control from anywhere and at anytime is nowadays a matter of paramount importance in\ critical systems. This is the case of the Smart Grid and its domains which should be monitored through\ intelligent and dynamic mechanisms able to anticipate, detect and respond before disruptions arise\ within the system. Given this fact and its importance for social welfare and the economy, a model for\ wide-area situational awareness is proposed in this paper. The model is based on a set of current\ technologies such as the wireless sensor networks, the ISA100.11a standard and cloud-computing\ together with a set of high-level functional services. These services include global and local support for\ prevention through a simple forecast scheme, detection of anomalies in the observation tasks,\ response to incidents, tests of accuracy and maintenance, as well as recovery of states and control in\ crisis situations.

}, keywords = {Cloud Computing, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Smart Grid, Wide-Area Situational Awareness, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {0167-739X}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.future.2013.06.030}, author = {Cristina Alcaraz and Javier Lopez} } @article {1752, title = {Security of Industrial Sensor Network-based Remote Substations in the context of the Internet of Things}, journal = {Ad Hoc Networks}, volume = {11}, year = {2013}, month = {2013}, pages = {1091{\textendash}1104}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

The main objective of remote substations is to provide the central system with sensitive information from critical infrastructures, such as generation, distribution or transmission power systems. Wireless sensor networks have been recently applied in this particular context due to their attractive services and inherent benefits, such as simplicity, reliability and cost savings. However, as the number of control and data acquisition systems that use the Internet infrastructure to connect to substations increases, it is necessary to consider what connectivity model the sensor infrastructure should follow: either completely isolated from the Internet or integrated with it as part of the Internet of Things paradigm. This paper therefore addresses this question by providing a thorough analysis of both security requirements and infrastructural requirements corresponding to all those TCP/IP integration strategies that can be applicable to networks with constrained computational resources.

}, keywords = {Industrial Control Networks, Internet of Things, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Systems, The Internet, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {1570-8705}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2012.12.001}, author = {Cristina Alcaraz and Rodrigo Roman and Pablo Najera and Javier Lopez} } @article {1770, title = {Smart Control of Operational Threats in Control Substations}, journal = {Computers \& Security}, volume = {38}, year = {2013}, month = {OCT 2013}, pages = {14-27}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

Any deliberate or unsuitable operational action in control tasks of critical infrastructures, such as energy generation, transmission and distribution systems that comprise sub-domains of a Smart Grid, could have a significant impact on the digital economy: without energy, the digital economy cannot live. In addition, the vast majority of these types of critical systems are configured in isolated locations where their control depends on the ability of a few, supposedly trustworthy, human operators. However, this assumption of reliabilty is not always true. Malicious human operators (criminal insiders) might take advantage of these situations to intentionally manipulate the critical nature of the underlying infrastructure. These criminal actions could be not attending to emergency events, inadequately responding to incidents or trying to alter the normal behaviour of the system with malicious actions. For this reason, in\ this paper we propose a smart response mechanism that controls human operators{\textquoteright} operational threats at all times. Moreover, the design of this mechanism allows the system to be able to not only evaluate by itself, the situation of a particular scenario but also to take control when areas are totally unprotected and/or isolated. The response mechanism, which is based on Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSNs) for the constant monitoring of observed critical\ infrastructures, on reputation for controlling human operators{\textquoteright} actions, and on the ISA100.11a standard for alarm management, has been implemented and simulated to evaluate its feasibility for critical contexts.

}, keywords = {Digital Economy, Energy Control Systems, Reputation, security, Smart grids, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {0167-4048}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cose.2013.03.013}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404813000588}, author = {Javier Lopez and Cristina Alcaraz and Rodrigo Roman} } @article {Alcaraz2011, title = {An Early Warning System based on Reputation for Energy Control Systems}, journal = {IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid}, volume = {2}, number = {4}, year = {2011}, month = {Nov 2011}, pages = {827-834}, publisher = {IEEE}, abstract = {

Most of energy control or SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are very dependent on advanced technologies and on traditional security mechanisms for protecting the a system against anomalous events. Security mechanisms are not enough to be used in critical systems, since they can only detect anomalous events occurring at a certain moment in time. For this reason it becomes of paramount importance the usage of intelligent systems with capability for preventing anomalous situations and reacting against them on time. This type of systems are, for example, Early Warning Systems (EWS). In this paper, we propose an EWS based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) (under the ISA100.11a standard) and reputation for controling the network behaviour. The WSN are organized into clusters where a Cluster Head (CH) is designated. This CH will contain a Reputation Manager Module. The usability of this approach is also analyzed considering a Smart Grid scenario.} keywords = {Critical Information Infrastructures, Sensor Networks, Early Warning Systems, Reputation, SCADA Systems, Smart Grid.

}, keywords = {Early Warning Systems, Reputation, SCADA Systems, Smart Grid, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {1949-3053}, doi = {10.1109/TSG.2011.2161498}, author = {Cristina Alcaraz and Carmen Fernandez-Gago and Javier Lopez} } @inproceedings {Roman2007b, title = {Applicability of Public Key Infrastructures in Wireless Sensor Networks}, booktitle = {European PKI Workshop: Theory and Practice (EuroPKI{\textquoteright}07)}, series = {LNCS}, volume = {4582}, year = {2007}, month = {June}, pages = {313-320}, publisher = {Springer}, organization = {Springer}, address = {Mallorca (Spain)}, abstract = {

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are becoming a key technology in the support of pervasive and ubiquitous services. The previous notion of PKC is too expensive for WSN has changed partially due to the existence of new hardware and software prototypes based on Elliptic Curve Cryptography and other PKC primitives. Then, it is necessary to analyze whether it is both feasible and convenient to have a Public Key Infrastructure for sensor networks that would allow the creation of PKC-based services like Digital Signatures.

}, keywords = {Public Key Cryptography, Public Key Infrastructure, wireless sensor networks}, isbn = {978-3-540-73407-9}, issn = {0302-9743 (Print) 1611-3349 (Online)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-540-73408-6_22}, url = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/q4l10ww348010131/}, author = {Rodrigo Roman and Cristina Alcaraz} } @incollection {Lopez2007, title = {On the Protection and Technologies of Critical Information Infrastructures.}, booktitle = {On Foundations of Security Analysis and Design IV, FOSAD 2006/2007, Springer}, series = {LNCS}, volume = {4677}, year = {2007}, note = {

10.1007/978-3-540-74810-6_6

}, pages = {160-182}, abstract = {

Critical Infrastructures are complex and highly interconnected systems that are crucial for the well-being of the society. Any type of failure can cause significant damage, affecting one or more sectors due to their inherent interdependency. Not only the infrastructures are critical, but also the information infrastructures that manage, control and supervise them. Due to the seriousness of the consequences, the protection of these critical (information) infrastructures must have the highest priority. It is the purpose of this book chapter to review and discuss about these infrastructures, to explain their elements, and to highlight their research and development issues. This chapter will also discuss the role of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technology in the protection of these infrastructures.

}, keywords = {Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {0302-9743}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-540-74810-6_6}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-74810-6_6}, author = {Javier Lopez and Cristina Alcaraz and Rodrigo Roman} } @article {Roman2007a, title = {The Role of Wireless Sensor Networks in the Area of Critical Information Infrastructure}, journal = {Information Security Technical Report}, volume = {12}, number = {1}, year = {2007}, pages = {24-31}, publisher = {Elsevier}, abstract = {

Critical Infrastructures, such as energy, banking, and transport, are an essential pillar to the well-being of the national and international economy, security and quality of life. These infrastructures are dependent on a spectrum of highly interconnected information infrastructures for their smooth, reliable and continuous operation. The field of protecting such Critical Information Infrastructures, or CIIP, faces numerous challenges, such as managing the secure interaction between peers, assuring the resilience and robustness of the overall system, and deploying warning and alert systems, amongst others. In this tapestry of CIIP, Wireless Sensor Networks can be used as an invaluable tool due to their intelligent distributed control capabilities, alongside with their capability to work under severe conditions. In this paper, we justify why Wireless Sensor Networks technology is suitable for providing security for these scenarios, describing both their advantages and research issues and their role in the overall scheme of protecting the Critical Information Infrastructures.

}, keywords = {Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, Network Security, wireless sensor networks}, issn = {1363-4127}, doi = {10.1016/j.istr.2007.02.003}, url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VJC-4N6NK24-1/2/b1462973afe70af30a10b955d96ccbb6}, author = {Rodrigo Roman and Cristina Alcaraz and Javier Lopez} }