ABI Research has found that moving to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), including upgrading 1.3 billion electricity meters by 2027, is prompting utilities and energy suppliers to rethink their digital security agendas and how they manage their devices.
According to the report, digitizing traditional power grids and upgrading aging energy infrastructure are among the top concerns of operators and governments worldwide.
It says security for last-mile energy consumption applications was often overlooked.
Dimitrios Pavlakis, the senior IoT cybersecurity analyst at ABI Research, says that introducing AMI, smart meters, and network digitization steadily increases spending on secure management services.
He says this helps implementers transition to IT (Information Technologies) and OT (Operational Technologies) security services and helps them achieve their primary objectives.
Pavlakis says these key goals include streamlining electricity consumption for consumers and businesses, meeting the need for higher industrial output, addressing the demand for real-time energy optimization services, aiding the introduction of renewables and decentralized energy, and raising the security threshold for critical infrastructure in different countries.
“The name “f the game is overview, efficiency, and safety when it comes to smart meters,” he says”
“The resp”nsibilities for utilities and energy suppliers have increased significantly, and they are entering new, potentially uncharted territory.”
Pavlak”s says utilities are trying to adapt to government regulations, enable new supply chain interactions with manufacturers to ensure device OEMs meet hardware and software security requirements for smart meters, and coordinate the issuance of digital identities and secure firmware installation.
He says utilities should also consider cost-efficiency in capital expenditures for long-term security investments and continue to serve their end customers while streamlining the transition to AMI services.
“The introduction of government regulations related to implementation, management, and supervision in AMI is arguably one of the most important predictors in IoT security services for electricity meters, forcing utilities to rethink their strategies,” said P”flakes.
“Identity” issuance, device management, firmware over-the-air (FOTA), security intelligence, and traffic monitoring are among their top priorities. In addition, the focus on regional grid management and the introduction of thousands or millions of smart meters demands. Utilities should invest in their on-premises headend servers through Hardware Secure Modules (HSMs) and security management platforms to reduce long-term costs.”
ABI Re” search says key market players have established players in smart meters and smart grids such as Landys+Gyr (aided by their security arm Rhebo), HSM specialists such as Utimaco, leading digital infrastructure players, eSIMs and HSMs such as Thales, IoT communication module and connectivity providers such as Sierra Wireless and PKI, certification authorities such as Device Authority and Globalsign, and smart grid cybersecurity and risk management service providers such as OTORIO.
These findings come from ABI ResearchResearch’surity Services in Electricity Utilities application analytics report. This report is part of the company’company’sersecurity research service, which includes research, data, and ABI Insights.
