Efficient key management for advanced distribution automation system

Advanced distribution automation system is an integrate part of smart grid, and a reliable communication network constitutes the core of the advanced distribution automation system. However, the use of commercial on-the-shelf technologies, standard protocols, combined with increased interconnectivity with other networks, has exposed them to wide range of network security problems. Considering the characteristics of the group communication in the distribution network, one of the solutions for avoiding vulnerability is the group data encryption with group key. This paper focuses on the issues of group key management for advanced distribution automation system. Based on a three-tier hierarchal network model, and by utilizing one-way key derivation algorithm, an efficient key management scheme is presented in the paper.