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Powering the
New Digital Utility
Cisco smart grid and network solutions help enable security,
resilience, and operational efficiency

Contents
Power on ................................................................................................2

Challenges..............................................................................................2

Solution ................................................................................................2

Why Cisco...............................................................................................2

The evolving utilities landscape ..............................................................3

Cisco solutions for grid security..............................................................6

Cisco solutions for utility WANs..............................................................6

Cisco solutions for substation automation...............................................7

Cisco solutions for distribution automation..............................................7

Cisco solutions for advanced metering infrastructure.............................8

Cisco solutions for mobile workforce......................................................8

The Cisco difference...............................................................................9

Innovating with Cisco ........................................................................... 10

Next steps............................................................................................. 11

Learn more........................................................................................... 11

©
© 2022
2022 Cisco
Cisco and/or
and/or its
its affiliates.
affiliates. All
All rights
rights reserved.
reserved.
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Power on Utilities are grappling with the need for a flexible and evolving grid as they
face many challenges, including:
• Utilities are facing
unprecedented challenges • Integrating renewable energy resources
to maintaining supply • Aging grids
and customer uptime
• Rising security threats
• To thrive in the new era,
• Tightening regulations
utilities need to connect
and modernize grid • More demanding customers
operations end to end Cisco’s solutions for digital utilities help leading power companies adapt to
• Leading utilities are turning the changing landscape and fuel continued growth and innovation.
to Cisco for a full range of
solutions, including grid
security, WAN modernization,
substation and distribution
Challenges
automation, smart
meters, mobile workforce • Rising security threats—both cyber and physical
collaboration, and more • Tougher industry regulations
• Rising costs, shrinking margins
• Increased complexity due to the demand for renewables

Solution
• Enable grid automation using proven IP networking technologies
• Deploy proven end-to-end security systems
• Empower the workforce with a unified collaboration platform

Why Cisco
• Unrivaled security expertise
• Single vendor with end-to-end networking solution
• Automation and management tools to reduce complexity
• Leadership in IoT
• Commitment to interoperability and open standards
• Strong customer and partner ecosystem

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The evolving utilities landscape

After what seemed like decades of stability and predictability, utilities have
entered a new era of change and uncertainty. Security threats are growing,
regulations are tightening, and new technologies—from smart meters to
microgrids—are disrupting longstanding business models. Meanwhile,
consumers are demanding more from their power company, including flexible
pricing and sustainable energy options. These trends have changed the
game for utilities, forcing them to evolve or face diminishing growth
and profitability.

Recent security incidents—both cyber and physical—have sent shock waves

through the industry, spurring new regulations to avert crippling attacks
on critical energy infrastructure. Yet most utilities have a long way to go to
protect their grids. Isolating the network is no longer an option. The reality
is that utilities need to be connected to increase grid efficiencies, improve
resilience, and—ultimately—deliver the next generation of services to an
increasingly digitized and mobile customer base.

The growing adoption of solar, wind, and other Distributed Renewable

Energy Resources has also challenged utilities to adapt by integrating these
distributed energy resources into the grid.1 This is not a simple integration,
given the challenges of implementing bidirectional flows. Meanwhile,
consumers themselves are driving change by demanding more choice and
flexibility from their energy providers.

To thrive in the new era, utilities will need to invest in more efficient,
automated, and resilient energy grids. The industry’s infamous aging
infrastructure—and graying workforce—complicates the task. Strategy-minded
utilities are increasingly planning for a future based on IT and smart grid
applications that require advanced telecommunications systems.
IP-based, packet-switched networks will form the backbone of these new
systems, providing system interoperability and enabling a spectrum of new
applications that improve grid security, control, and automation.

For instance, by harnessing connected-grid technologies, utilities can

continuously monitor traffic anomalies and neutralize cyberthreats before
they occur. Secure wireless connectivity can help workers troubleshoot
outages faster. Distribution automation enabled by IP networks - through
greater visibility of grid assets, can curb power losses. And new multiservice
networks can rein in costs by consolidating a mix of legacy services and
protocols on a single highly efficient communications network. These are just
a few examples of what’s possible for the new digital utility.

1
Renewables are set to account for almost 95% of the increase in global power capacity through 2026, with solar PV alone
providing more than half. Source: International Energy Agency.

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Perhaps most promising (and exciting): Connected-grid technologies will

offer utilities a broad platform for innovation, helping unlock the power in
the latest iterations of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence,
and predictive analytics. Considering that utilities are estimated to have
the largest collection of intelligent devices in operation, the potential for
capitalizing on this built-in IoT network—and the terabytes of data it
holds—is enormous.

The logic of the new era is clear: If utilities are going to reverse flat or
declining revenues, cope with an aging infrastructure, improve workforce
efficiency, and address new customer expectations, they must place digital
transformation at the top of their business agenda.

Modernizing the grid with Cisco

The challenges for utilities are huge, but so are the opportunities. More and
more utilities are partnering with Cisco and harnessing new technologies
to enable a range of modern capabilities that accelerate business
transformation.

Cisco smart grid solutions address every aspect of the modern utility’s
network operations, from the control centers and Wide Area Networks
(WANs) that provide oversight and management of the entire grid to the
increasingly complex and automated substations that form the backbone of
energy distribution and the field area networks that link the “last mile” of the
network to residential and business consumers.

Control centers/Wide area network

Transmission and Distribution Substations

   

Field area network (distribution automation,

remote asset management, smart metering,
and remote workforce automation)

Distributed Renewable Energy Resources

(Wind, Solar, Battery Storage)

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What utilities care 6 critical capabilities

about today Our research shows that modern utilities need to focus on mastering six
• Physical security and critical capabilities—spanning the range of network places—to drive market
cybersecurity leadership and profitable growth in the decade ahead:
• Grid modernization
1. Grid security
• Integrating new distributed
energy resources (solar, Cisco offers utilities the broadest portfolio of security solutions, countering
microgrids, etc.) both cyber and physical threats and protecting every part of the network,
from the control center to substations to field area networks and mobile
• Complying with new regulations
workers. Cisco Grid Security solutions deliver an integrated, converged
• Accommodating rising approach to security that:
consumer empowerment
• Provides critical infrastructure gradesecurity to grid systems,data,
• Integrating new energy
and assets
sources and consumption
models, e.g. EV charging. • Monitors the network while mitigating threats

• Improving safety, security, • Helps utilities meet regulatory requirements

and reliability Cisco’s solutions for cybersecurity give network operators visibility into every
• Retaining and acquiring device and allow continuous monitoring of the network for anomalous traffic
customers and malware. The solutions provide secure remote access to the
• Exploring unregulated network—boosting efficiency and worker productivity—and help ensure
market opportunities that the latest patches and updates are installed, further strengthening the
network against cybercrime and data loss.
• Mergers and acquisitions
Physical security is no less critical—a fact starkly highlighted by the
well-documented incident at PG&E’s Metcalf substation in San Jose,
California, where gunmen knocked out 17 transformers that help power
Silicon Valley; a blackout was narrowly averted. Cisco leads the market
in providing physical video surveillance, access control, alarms, and
tamper-prevention solutions to safeguard power plants, transmission lines,
substations, smart meters, and more.

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Cisco solutions for Cisco solutions for utility WANs

grid security Teleprotection
Cybersecurity products Cisco’s deterministic, multiservice WAN provides industry-leading
performance, low latency, reliability, and flexible transport options.
• Cisco Identity Services Engine Products: Cisco Aggregation Service Routers (ASR), Cisco Network
• Cisco Cyber Vision Convergence System (NCS), and Cisco Evolved Network Programmable
Network Manager (EPNM)
• Cisco DNA Center
Synchrophasors/phasor measurement units (PMUs)
• Cisco Next Generation Firewall
Cisco offers carrier-class precise timing for the WAN and power-profile
• Cisco SD-WAN
support for the LAN. Products: Cisco ASR an NCS Platforms, Cisco Catalyst
industrial routers, Cisco Catalyst Industrial Ethernet switches.

Figure 1. Grid cybersecurity

Grid Site Type Remote Control Transmission Distribution Distribution

access Center Generation Substations Substations Network

Cyber Security
Capabilities

Next-Gen Firewall (NGFW) Network Telemetry

Real-Time Malware Hardware-based
with OT Protocol Collection with
Analysis and Detection VPN Encryption
Awareness Flexible Netflow

User and Device

Application Visibility Basic Stateful
Authentication
and Mapping L4 Firewall
and Profiling

Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)

Cisco’s broad portfolio features flexible transport options, and supports
features for serial based transport (Raw Sockets) and Serial based Scada
protocol translation (IEC60870-5-101 to 104 and Serial DNP3 to DNP3).
Products: Cisco Catalyst Industrial Routers and Cisco Catalyst Industrial
Ethernet Switches. Cisco Field Network Director for automation and
management.
We see many utilities looking to build their own backhaul networks using
Private LTE and in other regions, we see utilities looking to leverage
technologies such as 450MHz, allowing them to have a resilient battery
backup network. We support both.
Raw socket and pseudowire transport
Cisco IoT Field Network Director.

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Cisco solutions 2. Utility WAN

Cisco is defining the future of utility WANs with solutions that help companies
for substation unite disparate networks and manage assets more efficiently and securely
automation across the grid. Cisco’s portfolio of P, MPLS and SDWAN networking solutions
simplifies and streamlines utility WAN operations. The solutions empower
Cisco offers an unmatched utilities to move toward a modern, full-mesh matrix linking the distribution grid,
portfolio of solutions substations, control center, data center, and corporate offices.
purpose-built for utility
substations with deterministic With Cisco’s industry-leading WAN solutions, utilities can:
LAN, low latency, reliability, and • Converge multiple proprietary systems onto a single IP network and
total security. extend IT infrastructure from corporate offices to substations
Products: Cisco Catalyst • Increase system availability, safety, and performance for large-scale networks
Industrial Routers, Cisco Catalyst
Industrial Ethernet Switches, • Move from reactive to active network management
Cisco DNA Center for • More easily comply with regulations such as NERC CIP and the EU
management, Cisco SD-WAN. NIS Directive

3. Substation automation
Cisco solutions Traditional substation designs—often dependent on a jumble of leased lines
for distribution and siloed applications—lack the functionality and scalability needed to meet
today’s operating standards and security requirements. Cisco helps utility
automation operators modernize the grid with next-generation substation automation
products and services, including the Cisco Catalyst IR8300 Rugged Series
Cisco stands out with the breadth Router and Cisco Catalyst IE9300 Rugged Series Switch for substations.
of its DA portfolio, including These provide the foundation for advanced protection and control, remote
integrated cellular and WiSUN RF diagnostics, and predictive maintenance capabilities.
Mesh; small-form-factor,
low-power gateways; private In addition, when there’s a need to extend connectivity to another part of
LTE and 5G, Wi-Fi or Cisco the substation, Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaull provides fiber-like
wireless backhaul performance.
Ultra Reliable Wireless Backhaul
(CURWB) for backhaul; and Featuring ruggedized switches and routers, Cisco’s open standards-based
comprehensive security and substation automation solutions enable utilities to:
multiservice capabilities.
• Improve remote monitoring of substation equipment and sensors for
Products: Cisco Catalyst
better visibility
industrial routers (IR), Cisco IOx,
Cisco Catalyst edge platforms (IE), • Reduce service disruptions with more timely equipment maintenance
Cisco IoT Field Network • Improve productivity and lower costs by reducing multiple lease-line charges
Director (FND). • Manage existing legacy infrastructure while complying with new security
mandates and industry standards

4. Distribution automation
Last-mile data communications networks are essential to realizing the full
potential of the smart grid. Field area networks powered by the Cisco industrial
routing portfolio, including the Cisco Catalyst IR1101 Rugged Router, support
all the capabilities that drive the competitive edge of modern utilities, including
high-efficiency distribution automation (DA), remote asset management, smart
metering, and mobile workforce automation. Cisco multiservice networks are
the foundation for enabling distributed power generation and energy storage,
electric vehicle (EV) charging, microgrids, and more.

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Cisco solutions for 5. Advanced metering infrastructure

Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is a critical part of any smart grid
advanced metering initiative, enabling utilities to obtain real-time power consumption data and
infrastructure allowing customers to make informed choices about energy usage. Unlike
legacy electricity meters, AMI-based smart meters are capable of two-way
Cisco stands out with communication with the utility network.
industry-leading network
management, security, and Cisco leads in the design and deployment of communications networks that
multiservice capabilities. drive smart metering systems, and we’re taking that a step further with the
Products: Cisco Resilient Mesh/ introduction of the new Cisco Catalyst IR8100 Heavy Duty Series Routers.
Wi-SUN RF mesh, Cisco IoT Field Currently, we offer solutions in the 900-MHz band, used primarily by utilities
Network Director , Cisco Catalyst in North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC).
industrial routers. Neighborhood area networks powered by Cisco, interconnect smart meters—as
well as streetlights and distributed energy resources – using multiple wireless
Based on a flexible two-tier technologies such as: Wisun RF Mesh, PLC, Cellular, LoRaWAN.
architecture, Cisco’s field area
network solutions enable Our flexible AMI solutions enable utilities to:
utilities to: • Scale to connect millions of smart meters
• Seamlessly connect field • Provide over-the-air meter firmware upgrades
devices to control centers • Remotely connect and disconnect power from meter to load
• Increase operational reliability • Deliver power outage and restoration notifications
through self-healing grids
• Receive alerts when meters have been damaged
• Reduce feeder losses
• Improve system performance 6. Mobile workforce
using power-quality monitoring A highly mobile workforce is critical to quickly finding and fixing power
and distribution-level sensing outages—and keeping customers happy. That’s why more utilities are adopting
• Continue to leverage legacy Cisco’s utility fleet management solution, which provides a secure, always-on
assets rather than upgrading mobile network in and around the maintenance vehicle. Field workers can now
collaborate more easily and optimize their safety, reliability, and efficiency.
Here are some of the benefits utilities have realized with the Cisco utility fleet
Cisco solutions for management solution:
mobile workforce • Faster customer response time and reduced carbon footprint with
Cisco offers a total solution with location-aware dispatching
fixed-mobile integration and full • Increased employee safety with wearable health monitors
network-to-application coverage. • Lower fuel costs (by as much as 30 percent) and fewer speeding citations
Products: Cisco Catalyst with real-time location, speed, and idle time tracking
industrial wireless access points, • Improved crew communications using text, voice, and video with the
Cisco Catalyst industrial routers, Webex by Cisco collaboration solution
Webex by Cisco.

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The Cisco difference

Cisco’s smart grid and networking solutions form a unified portfolio of
solutions that help utilities modernize, reduce risk, and innovate. But what
makes Cisco the first choice for digitizing utilities? Consider the following:

Unrivaled security expertise

Cisco is the clear industry leader in network security. No other solution
provider can match Cisco’s technology firsts, the breadth and depth of its
product portfolio, and the continuing commitment to innovation. Cisco takes
an integrated approach to security, intelligently connecting each part of the
utility value chain—and every network asset—to create a unified, centrally
managed whole network. And Cisco keeps innovating, pushing the envelope
of what’s possible in the field of physical and cyber security. The new Cisco
Cisco Secure Network Analytics (Stealthwatch), and Cisco Cybervsion for
OT asset visibility and vulnerability identification solutions, for example, are
setting new standards for anomaly detection and risk reduction.

Comprehensive grid management capabilities

Cisco is breaking new ground in distributed control and real-time
management of energy grids. Cisco’s Evolved Programmable Network
Manager, for instance, provides simplified, converged, end-to-end lifecycle
management for carrier-grade networks of all sizes. These real-time
management capabilities allow utilities to achieve new levels of customer
service—for instance, by adjusting the grid, as well as prices, in response
to changing consumer demand. Furthermore, Cisco’s multiservice network
architecture delivers high levels of availability and resiliency while keeping
capital costs under control.

Setting the pace in IoT

For many years, Cisco IoT has been delivering purpose-built products for
utilities, including industrial-grade Cisco Catalyst routers and switches—which
deliver all the advancements of the latest enterprise network capabilities
while at the same time fully supporting utilities with IEC 61850-3 and
IEEE 1613 certifications.

Cisco IoT networking products share the same technology as networking

products from the enterprise, making them interoperable with the full network
stack, so you can scale with confidence.

Commitment to interoperability and open standards

With Cisco, utilities are never locked into closed, proprietary technologies
and protocols that support only a single service. Cisco has long been
committed to network vendor interoperability, as evidenced by its support for
standards organizations such as the Wireless Smart Utility Alliance (WiSUN).
The WiSUN effort is helping drive the development of interoperable utility
applications that take advantage of decades of networking expertise available

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within the IP suite. Cisco’s commitment to interoperability helps utilities

simplify systems, lower costs, and improve uptime.

Backed by loyal customers and partners worldwide

Utilities that invest in Cisco digital utilities solutions take advantage of a deep
network of resources, including:

• Strong partner ecosystem: Leverage more than a thousand technology and

consulting companies dedicated to supporting Cisco products and services.
• Cisco Validated Designs: Access proven utility IoT solutions that address
a broad range of use cases in substation automation, DA, AMI, and
grid security.
• End-to-end support: Access strategy, design, deployment, and managed
services provided by Cisco Advanced Services.
• Global installed base: Harness the expertise of thousands of end users
running industry-leading Cisco solutions worldwide.

Innovating with Cisco

Many of the world’s leading utilities are modernizing and automating their
grids with Cisco technologies.

Duke Energy: Modernizing cost-effectively

One of the largest electric power companies in North America, Duke Energy,
based in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been steadily expanding its substation
and distribution networks. Aging equipment, however, made it hard to get
real-time telemetry data from the grid, while budget constraints prevented
expensive upgrades.
Duke found a solution in Cisco’s smart grid technologies, deploying Cisco
industrial routers and switches as the foundation for a modern integrated
power grid network. The cost-effective new architecture extended
Duke’s corporate IP infrastructure to substation operations and allowed
implementation of centralized security and automated management systems.
As a result, Duke Energy:

• Created a flexible, intelligent foundation for cross-company applications

Figure 2. All Cisco Catalyst industrial • Improved substation security and visibility
routers are field upgradable • Implemented better monitoring and logging of telemetry data
(IR8140 shown)
“To fully leverage the benefits of digital technology, Duke Energy is taking an
end-to-end approach with a smart grid that includes digital technologies on
substations such as Cisco’s Connected Grid solutions,” said Mark Wyatt, vice
president of Duke Energy’s smart grid and energy systems program.
Enel – Turna (primary) – Secondary, Innogy, Enedis, Enel.

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Next steps Transforming into a digital utility

A Canadian electric utility serving 1.8 million customers through a network of
Faced with a rapidly changing
hydroelectric, natural gas, and thermal-powered facilities, has been aleader
market and technology
in digital transformation. It has launched a series of initiatives to enable
landscape, utilities and energy
remote grid automation and monitoring, as well as connected applications
companies are under pressure
over a common networking infrastructure.
to adapt and innovate. But
for companies and critical Recently the utility designed a smart grid infrastructure based on the Cisco
infrastructure providers that field area network architecture with AMI. To bolster security, it deployed the
embrace the new environment, Cisco Identity Services Engine and firewalls. And to lay the groundwork for
opportunities abound to increase future innovation, it has engaged Cisco Advanced Services to explore IoT
consumer satisfaction and propel and network optimization opportunities. To date, the utility has:
growth and profitability. Cisco’s
digital solutions and industry- • Increased data collection from once every two months to twice a day
specific validated designs for • Effectively managed power outages
utilities are engineered to help • Improved visibility for remote devices across the grid
these utilities thrive as the
industry continues to evolve in the SDEE Muntenia Nord: Building a secure, stable, and
years ahead.
predictable network
Protecting market share and boosting IT and operational security were top
Learn more priorities for SDEE Muntenia Nord, a leading electrical utility in Romania’s
mountainous north region. Equally important was reducing the number of
Explore Cisco Validated Designs
planned and unplanned interruptions to satisfy an increasingly demanding
for Utilities.
customer base. Since investing in Cisco smart grid and networking solutions,
Contact Cisco IoT the utility has been hitting its marks. It leveraged Cisco industrial routers and
network-embedded microservices to automate electrical distribution. Then
it deployed an innovative Cisco IoT architecture to centralize security for
applications, data, the network, and user access.

As a result, SDEE Muntenia Nord:

• Gained real-time visibility into the business for quick response to what is
happening in the field
• Significantly reduced the risk of service disruptions and security
threats—both cyber and physical
• Created a secure, stable, and predictable network with a predictable
cost structure

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