How to Test Grid Network Cyber Resilience

+ EXata Network Modeling - Critical Infrastructure

Model And Stress-Test Grid Communications

A grid communication testbed requires a virtual network model containing the nodes, endpoints, and links that represent the communications environment, together with user-defined operating conditions and application traffic. Network elements models can represent routers, switches, sensors, servers, firewalls, and other endpoints, while links can represent local-area network segments, internet circuits, radio transmissions, Wi-Fi signals, or LTE connections. Simulation scenarios can then vary operating conditions and traffic patterns to examine network behavior, congestion, and application response.

For cyber-resilience testing, the virtual model can be extended with cyber vulnerabilities, defenses, and attack scenarios. The network simulation can be connected to live hardware and applications through a system-in-the-loop emulation interface, allowing virtual and physical elements to operate together. Results can be analyzed across scenarios to evaluate information-flow resilience and identify the effects of conditions such as congested links or denial-of-service attacks.

Grid Network Cyber Resilience Solution

Build a virtual grid communication network from modeled nodes, endpoints, links, operating conditions, and application traffic, then execute repeatable what-if scenarios. EXata provides virtual network models for analyzing network behavior and application response under different operating conditions, including link congestion. When paired with an OPAL-RT hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) real-time digital simulator, EXata's communication network model can be co-simulated with a real-time power system model – enabling engineers to validate cyber-physical interactions and cross-domain resilience across both the power and communication planes in a single, synchronized test environment. For further cyber-resilience analysis, the optional Cyber Library adds cyber vulnerabilities, defenses, and attack scenarios. The Analyzer processes simulation results and generates reports, allowing engineers to compare scenarios and assess network behavior, scalability, performance, and resilience.

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