Security Threats in Intelligent Power Networks: Present Vulnerabilities, Emerging Exploits, Prospects, and Mitigation Strategies

Smart Grids (SGs) are replacing traditional power grids to deal with issues like one-way information flow, rising energy demand, wasted energy, and problems with availability and security. The Internet of Things (IoT) is a big part of this change. In the future, it should be easier to use and more reliable SGs because they will be connected to existing power grids. But these new technologies and IoT devices make SGs more vulnerable to cyberattacks, which could hurt their reliability. Because of these threats, the whole grid is at a lot of risk, so security is the most important thing to think about when using SG technology. This paper gives a thorough look at the cybersecurity problems that IoT devices have in SGs. It begins by explaining how SGs are set up and what the IoT does in these systems. Next, it talks about the security problems, goals, and needs of SGs. The paper sorts and rates cyber-attacks according to the new, more complicated attacks and the principles of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA). Then it talks about the latest security solutions, secure protocols, and standards that deal with each type of cyber attack. The paper also talks about new technologies and solutions, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and Software-Defined Networking (SDN), that can help fight new cyberattacks and make SGs stronger. Lastly, it makes suggestions for future research based on what has already been written and what this study found