With the advancement of quantum computers, utility infrastructure protected only with today’s cybersecurity standards is at risk for high-impact attacks, such as total disruption. The implications of a quantum-enabled attack could be catastrophic, said Mashatan.
“An attacker who would have access to a capable quantum computer could access sensitive information then use it to operationalize an attack to create a massive disruption, like a blackout,” said Mashatan, the Canada Research Chair in Quality of Security Framework for Internet of Things.
TMU engineering professor and Canada Research Chair in Smart Grid Cyber-Physical Security Reza Arani is also working on the research project. The professors will collaborate with industry partners Hydro Quebec, evolutionQ and Crypto4A to create a blueprint for how the energy sector can mitigate the risks of quantum threats and incorporate quantum-resistant cybersecurity into their smart grids.
Current quantum computers are early models not yet capable of breaking cryptographic standards. As quantum computing advances, utility and other critical infrastructure sectors must examine their quantum vulnerability closely and plan accordingly to implement mitigating countermeasures, said Mashatan. Power grids are attractive targets for attackers, and utility providers need to make their infrastructure resilient against impending threats.
Preparing the energy sector to mitigate the risks of quantum-capable cyber threats comes with the additional challenge of needing to protect operational technology – in this case, the physical infrastructure of power grids – as well as information technology.
This multi-year project will start with identifying vulnerabilities in generic power system models and demonstrate how an attack can create disruptions to the smart grid.
The researchers will then work to improve the security tools available. With evolutionQ, they will investigate the feasibility of quantum key distribution, a secure communication method for establishing keys used to encrypt information, to enhance the security of the existing infrastructure by adding a layer of quantum cryptography.
They will work with Crypto4A to explore the use of next generation quantum-safe digital signature technologies to provide low-overhead and quantum-safe integrity services. Crypto4A will provide hardware security modules built to support these next generation technologies that will be used to secure the quantum-safe smart grid.
