‘Smart’ meters will require ‘Smart’ security
Nov 26
Online Identity and Trust: ‘Smart’ meters will require ‘Smart’ security
Online Identity and Trust « A Year of Progress for VIP Access for Mobile | Main | Cloud-based Authentication Matters Here » ‘Smart’ meters will require ‘Smart’ securityHan Dong, Senior Product Marketing Manager, User Authentication
I came across a recent Associated Press article by Jordan Robertson, concerning “Smart” utility meters and their security holes. In this article, Robertson talks about the “aggressive roll out of new [Smart] meters” by utility companies in the U.S. Smart meters are a new type of enhanced utility meter, designed to measure natural gas or electricity usage in a more sophisticated manner. 
Essentially Smart meters (versus old-fashioned “dumb” meters) can measure not just the volume of utility used, but also when (peak vs. non-peak usage in real-time) those utilities are consumed. The benefit here is that utility companies can better plan resources required at any given time/day/season to deliver those utilities, and consumers can enjoy discounted/variable rates for utilities consumed (higher prices during peak times and lower prices during non-peak times). Add the fact that Smart meters can communicate over wired/wireless networks and now utility meter readers can also more efficiently capture/record data from these Smart meters, especially in rural areas.
The issue at hand is that while these new Smart meters do present a number of benefits, the ‘cost’ is the issue of potential security holes, given the programmability and network-connected aspects of these new meters. While today it may be true that Smart meters are vulnerable to a variety of attacks, there are quite a few simple steps that can be taken both by the meter vendors and the utility companies to ensure the security of the power grid and consumers’ utility information.
The Wireless industry has to a large extent addressed this problem, and so has the cable industry. The use of standards based authentication and excryption technology in ALL components, both at the consumer portion (Smart meter) of the power network and the distribution portion of the power grid, will not only enhance the security of the smart grid but will also foster interoperability. In fact, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working on a set of security standards that can be applied to the Smart Grid and participants from all segments of the power industry. Looking to some of the pioneers in this space, most notably the WiMAX and the Cable industry, several ecosystems have deployed PKI-based digital certificate and Smart card solutions to ensure the security of the network and a variety of distributed, connected devices in a scalable and trusted manner. Deployment of similar security mechanisms as part of the Smart Grid and Smart meters will go a long way in ensuring the trust worthiness of the network, its manageability, and audit ability.
So for Smart meter vendors and utility providers concerned about security of the grid – look to VeriSign to help solve your security concerns. No need to reinvent the wheel.
Posted by Han Dong on April 2, 2010 12:29 PM | Permalink Post a comment (If you haven’t left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won’t appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)
Name:
Email Address:
URL:
Remember personal info?
Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style) 
Search Categories Authentication | Cloud-based Security | Device Security | Fraud Detection | Fraud Detection Service | Identity | Mobile devices and credentials | OpenID | VIP Blog | WiMAX | fraud protection | iPhone | layered security | two-factor authentication | second-factor authentication | verisign | Archives November 2010 October 2010 July 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 Recent Posts And the SC Magazine Award finalists are… VIP Mobile Software Developer Kit (SDK) Available for Windows Phone 7 Some additional “Social Security” Qualys provides VIP Protection to its customers VeriSign Customers Honored by Computerworld Cloud-based Authentication Matters Here ‘Smart’ meters will require ‘Smart’ security A Year of Progress for VIP Access for Mobile VeriSign has “got your back” on fraudulent ATM activity Cloud computing security standards – Vinton Cerf, father of the internet, has got your back 
Subscribe Comments We encourage comments and look forward to hearing from you. Please note that VeriSign may, in our sole discretion, remove comments if they are off topic or inappropriate. Powered by
Movable Type 4.21-en Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors, not of VeriSign.
VeriSign Legal Notices
Read our Privacy Policy
View the original article here
Posts Related to 'Smart' meters will require 'Smart' security
Bourne Identity Protection
Online Identity and Trust: Bourne Identity Protection Online Identity and Trust « Blogging about Blogs - VIP Access for Mobile getting noticed | Main | ...
For those that haven’t spent some time with this field long enough – I know that the internet isn’t the most trustworthy resource for info. but for sure I can say that the author is correct, however strange it might look
There are times that i dont read more than two lines but i honestly enjoyed what i read. Grats !
Very Nice website. I just finished mine and i was looking for some design ideas and you gave me a few. May i ask you whether you developed the website by youself?
Cheers
I read all the article and it is really great effort to give such valauable information.
I can not quite see it through your eyes in all my honesty. maybe this is since i am actual new in this field but I’ll continue reading and shoot an email when I have a few doubts if you don’t have anything agains this?
I’ve learned so much online in the past four years. The majority of my knowledge I attribute to reading great blogs like yours. Thank you!
guess what, I haven’t spoke to you on the chat in a while, but I guessed I might email you from my cutting edge Netbook!! No joke, I work for a hot company these days in the development dept. Do not tell everyone but we located this site that is entirely glitching and providing out no cost Notebook!! to anyone that signs up. I believe you may have to confirm your e-mail, Sincerely dsl anbieter test
Oh boy! It’s like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, just like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pictures to drive the content home a bit, but other than that, this is outstanding blog. A outstanding read. I’ll definitely revisit again.
Thanks mate. Good blog you got going on here. Got some more links to link to with a bit more stuff like this?
Hello ok Angela ,I am supposed to be a tea and coffee nut, completely love the aroma as well as the taste of tea as the primary thing after waking up. I consume minimum five glasses each day. Well awesome blog, Hope you have a great day.
How-do-you-do? a brilliant article dude. Thank you Unfortunately I’m experiencing trouble with your rss feed. Unable to subscribe. Does anybody else having same rss feed issue? Anybody who knows kindly respond. Thanks!
You are not the average blog writer, man. You definitely have something powerful to add to the net. Such a great blog. I will revisit again for more.
I carry on listening to the news lecture about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you tell me please, where could i acquire some?
I have study few of the blogposts on your web site these few days, and I truly like your way of blogging. I tag it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my internet site too and let me know what you think.
Nice to be visiting your blog again, it has been months for me. Well this article that i’ve been waited for so long. I need this article to complete my assignment in the college, and it has same topic with your article. Thanks, great share.
I got what you intend, saved to bookmarks , very nice site.
Do you have any other similar blogs and/or related fields of expression. This information has caused in me some quasi-cascade effect that has resulted in a great rearangement of my knowledge almost akin to a complete paradigm shift in the way I perceive the world. Thank you so much for this and I bet you wil accumulate a ton of Karma and positive chi due to your wonderful undertaking in this blog!
I recently came across your website and have been reading a lot of posts of yours. I just thought I’d add a quick comment and let you know that you’ve got a really nice blog. I’ll watch out for updates from you!
I would’t know what happen in your thoughts to write this post but I enjoy reading it.
My husband just told me about your site. He saved it on the computer so I could look at it and I must say you’ve got some awesome stuff here. Sorry I don’t have much more to contribute, but I just wanted to offer up some encouragement.
I was chatting with my friend on MSN about this and I’ve got to say that I completely agree with the poster near the beginning. And on a side note, I really like the colors you used for your blog. What theme is this?
Finally, all designer Z Handbags are looking good in all people and all the designer handbags are truly original design. In fact, some bags called designer is really just imitations of designer to cheat consumers are tempted. So if you are a woman that will really take to find the best designer handbags to his costume, so that we are here to help. In this long article, we discuss the five tips for the perfect designer bag to find it for you. We bring you everything you need to know a designer bag buyers will be able to see the Smart Bag is ideal for your needs.
When you talk about Chanel is synonymous with fame. Women love Z Handbags and have a passion for bags of the brand. If you are able to get a Chanel bag authentic brand, speak to your personality and your style. If you are able to perfectly complement your wardrobe with the bags that people identify you as a style icon. It would add to the glory of your personality and your style.
I just want to thank you for the great info. Indeed made me acknowledge some basic aspects of this subject.
Hello. I just wanted to pop in and comment on the design of your blog. Don’t take this the wrong way, but it’s too loud. It’s doing way too much and it takes away from what youve got to say – which I think is really important.
Very solid article. I saw a webpage with a article exactly identical to this one a few of weeks ago. This article is a week older so I assume they have just copied and changed it. I’m not accusing you of plagiarism it’s merely just head’s up. I can not remember the website, sorry (age thing)