New online course “Cybersecurity in Power Industry”

A new online course “Cybersecurity in Power Industry” was developed at the Ural Power Engineering Institute for new master’s programs “Smart Urban Energy Systems” [https://energy.urfu.online/smart_cities_en]  and “Artificial intelligence in the electric power industry” [https://energy.urfu.online/ai_power_en] opened in 2022.

Digitalization of the power industry leads to introducing new technologies, enhanced integration of information systems into the management of power facilities. The annual growth of cyber attacks on power facilities, which are part of the critical infrastructure, is growing exponentially. Thereby, ensuring cybersecurity and the modernization of information security systems arise both for power facilities and power companies.

The authors of the course A. I. Khalyasmaa, S. A. Eroshenko, P. V. Matrenin, A. I. Stepanova, A. A. Larionova formed an interdisciplinary team of specialists in the fields of power systems, data processing, digital technologies, and information systems. This made it possible to create a unique course that reveals the features of ensuring cybersecurity at power facilities in the context of the digital transformation of the industry.

“The course using power industry examples covers general principles of cybersecurity, the risk management approach, database management systems, standards and laws in cybersecurity of power facilities, features of collecting, storing and transmitting data, measures to detect and protect against cyber attacks. We consider the tasks of ensuring information security at each stage of production, transportation, distribution and consumption of electricity,” says Pavel Matrenin, one of the course authors, leading researcher at Ural Power Engineering Institute.

The great value is that the course is available in two languages, Russian and English. It contains lectures, practical tasks and laboratory work. In laboratory work, students will gain skills in applying organizational, cryptographic and software tools for ensuring cybersecurity, as well as study on real-life examples of how data distortions affect the operation of intelligent information systems and machine learning methods.

The project is implemented by the winner of the Master’s Program Faculty Grant Competition of the Vladimir Potanin Fellowship Program.