Realizing Zero Trust Security in Emerging Energy Infrastructure

Zero-trust energy systems represent a paradigm shift in cybersecurity, challenging the traditional notion of trusting entities within a network by default. Instead, this approach advocates verifying and authenticating every user and device, irrespective of their location or network access privileges. This becomes particularly pertinent in the context of energy systems, where the consequences of cyber threats could be catastrophic due to the convergence of Information Technologies with the Operational Technologies. The collaboration between Deakin University and IITM will likely delve into cutting-edge research to develop robust security frameworks tailored for energy systems. This may involve the integration of advanced multi-factor continuous authentication techniques, artificial intelligence and machine learning driven security verification for continuous monitoring towards an adaptive and evolving cyber defence system. The research would also explore the application of blockchain technology to enhance the integrity and transparency of energy transactions within the system. Moreover, the partnership is likely to extend beyond theoretical research, incorporating practical implementations and testing in real-world scenarios. Beyond academic contributions, in future, the project aims to establish a durable collaboration between universities and participants in Australia and India. This collaboration will create a network of researchers and organizations, strengthening future partnerships through shared knowledge and discoveries, including, joint workshops, student supervision, India-Australia DST research funding applications, e.g., The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). Such collaborations have the potential to yield long-term benefits for both countries, extending beyond the scope of this specific project.