Home > Edge > Energy Edge > Cybersecurity and Automation for Digital Substations - White Paper > Dell Validated Design for Energy Edge
Electric utilities face multiple challenges that need to be considered for grid modernization. Two main challenges for brownfiled substations are:
Modernization brings with it its unique challenge of cybersecurity
The DVD for Energy Edge is an advanced electric utility edge solution that helps address the above two challenges. This DVD, a purpose-built solution that runs on Dell edge hardware enables electric utilities to replace their legacy gateways and its solution while incorporating new devices and technology.
This solution is based on the vPAC reference architecture, providing a structured approach to deploy virtualized applications to modernized substations. This solution virtualizes data aggregation, substation automation and protocol gateway application from ABB and cybersecurity from Forescout. This solution can be expanded for similar applications from other vendors too.
The DVD for Energy Edge helps electric utilities to:
Along with ABB’s ZEE600 workload, the virtualized Forescout’s eyeInspect application is also tested and validated as a workload on the Dell PowerEdge XR12 server. The eyeInspect application provides in-depth device visibility for OT/ICS networks and enables effective, real-time management of operational and cyber risks.
The DVD applies to standalone workloads or both workloads running on a single XR12 server. This solution has three main components: secure virtualization, layered cybersecurity, and high availability. Secure virtualization involves using technologies that provide secure isolation of VMs, networks, and storage. Layered cybersecurity involves implementing multiple layers of cybersecurity controls, including firewalls, intrusion detection, prevention systems, and network segmentation. This solution also supports IEC 62349-3 PRP (Parallel Redundancy Protocol) to provide high availability to Ethernet LAN (Local Area Network). High availability involves redundant hardware, software, and network components to ensure the substation's availability in case of hardware or software failures.
The DVD for Energy Edge provides a comprehensive approach and open architecture to overcome the limitations of data silos and enhance substation virtualization by incorporating substation automation, cybersecurity, and high availability layers. Utilities can use this solution to increase the safety and reliability of their substations and reduce the risk of cyberattacks, which can cause extensive damage.
Utilities, industries, infrastructure, and renewable segments can deploy this solution in greenfield and brownfield scenarios within transmission and istribution substations.