Protecting Modern Advanced Metering Infrastructure In The Age Of AI

As power grids digitalise and adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart meters are becoming central to energy management. However, this evolution brings a heightened risk of cyberattacks, data breaches, and system vulnerabilities. TIC Council India latest white paper explores the risks, standards, and solutions for protecting smart meters and the broader Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) ecosystem.

Key Highlights:

Multilayered Security Approach

• The paper proposes a "segregated security architecture" that addresses risks across six layers: device-level, network, data, cloud, user, and AI system security. It outlines how encryption, authentication, secure boot, tamper detection, and AI-specific safeguards are essential for robust cyber defence.

AI Integration: Benefits and Risks

• AI enhances AMI by enabling predictive maintenance, fraud detection, and real-time analytics. But it also introduces novel threats, such as data poisoning and adversarial inputs. The paper emphasises the need for AI-specific standards and secure model training practices.

Smart Meter Cyber Risks

• From outdated protocols and credential reuse to botnet attacks and privacy breaches, smart meters face both physical and digital threats. Case studies like the Puerto Rico billing fraud incident highlight the urgent need for stronger, end-to-end protections.

Key Mitigation Tools

• Recommendations include homomorphic encryption, smart meter-specific PKI, secure memory, network segmentation, data obfuscation, and secure multi-party computation. These technologies can protect both grid integrity and consumer privacy.

The Role of Standards

• The paper maps critical standards such as IEC 62056, ISO/IEC 27001, IEC 62443, and NIST frameworks. It also calls for alignment with emerging AI-specific standards, like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework and ISO/IEC 23053.

The Vital Role of the TIC Sector

• Independent third-party Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) providers help ensure conformity, build trust, and accelerate innovation. The white paper stresses the need to include TIC players in regulatory discussions and conformity assessment schemes for smart meter security.

A Global, Inclusive Approach

• To avoid fragmented regulation and enable secure, cross-border trade, the paper calls for internationally harmonised cybersecurity frameworks, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and process-based certification models that embed security by design.

Read the full paper here.