Introduction

Modern power grids rely extensively on Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) to deliver fast, accurate, and coordinated protection across generation, transmission, and distribution systems. As these devices become more intelligent, interconnected, and digitally enabled, they also introduce new cybersecurity exposure that can directly compromise protection integrity, system stability, and public safety. This IED Protection Tools and Cyber Security training course addresses the operational and security challenges arising from this convergence.

The course provides a structured understanding of how protection functionality, communications, and cybersecurity controls must operate together to defend critical power grid infrastructure. Participants learn how cyber threats can disrupt protection schemes, manipulate device settings, or impair communication channels, leading to mis-operations or widespread outages. Emphasis is placed on integrating cybersecurity into protection system design, configuration, testing, and lifecycle management.

Key focus areas include:

 

Key Learning Outcomes

At the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

 

Training Methodology

This IED Protection Tools and Cyber Security training course adopts a highly applied learning approach combining technical explanations, real-world scenarios, and collaborative exercises. Participants work through practical examples that illustrate how protection engineering decisions interact with cybersecurity requirements, reinforcing the ability to design, operate, and maintain secure protection systems across the power grid lifecycle.

IED Protection Tools and Cyber Security

Who Should Attend?

This training course is ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen protection reliability and cybersecurity resilience in power systems, including:

  • Protection and control engineers
  • Substation and grid automation specialists
  • Power system cybersecurity professionals
  • Electrical maintenance and asset engineers
  • Grid operations and reliability managers
  • Technical leaders responsible for IED-based protection systems

Course Outline

Day 1

IED Fundamentals and Power System Protection

  • Evolution of protection systems: From electromechanical to digital
  • IED architecture and components
  • Protection functions and characteristics
  • Communication protocols (IEC 61850, DNP3)
  • Real-time data processing and decision making
  • Setting and configuration basics
Day 2

Advanced Protection Applications

  • Distance protection implementation
  • Differential protection schemes
  • Advanced protection functions
  • Protection coordination principles
  • Fault recording and analysis
Day 3

IED Communications and Integration

  • Network architecture for substations
  • IEC 61850 implementation
  • GOOSE and sampled values
  • Time synchronization
  • System integration challenges
  • Performance requirements
  • IEC 61850 configuration
Day 4

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for IEDs

  • Threat landscape for power system IEDs
  • Security standards (IEC 62443, IEC 62351, IEEE 1686)
  • Access control and authentication
  • Secure communication protocols
  • Security event monitoring
  • Firmware management and updates
  • Security testing methods
Day 5

Advanced Security and System Management

  • Defense in depth strategies
  • Security incident response
  • Patch management for IEDs
  • Backup and recovery procedures
  • Maintenance and testing procedures
  • Security assessment methods
  • Integration with security operations

International Standards & Professional Alignment

Our training courses are aligned with internationally recognised professional standards and frameworks across leadership, strategy, finance, governance, risk, compliance, and audit. By integrating globally trusted models, we ensure learners develop practical, relevant, and industry-recognised capabilities.

Our trainings draw on leading international standards and professional frameworks, including ISO, ISACA, COSO, OECD, IIA, FATF, Basel, IFRS/ISSB, GRI, NIST, CPD, ILM and the OECD AI Principles. This alignment ensures consistency with global best practices across financial management, risk oversight, digital governance, sustainability, and strategic decision-making..

Designed in alignment with globally recognised professional bodies, our courses support continuous professional development, strengthen organisational capability, and provide clear pathways toward professional certifications valued worldwide.

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FAQs

IEDs are highly connected devices that directly control protection actions within the power grid. Cybersecurity weaknesses can allow unauthorized access, configuration changes, or communication disruption, leading to protection mis-operations or outages.  

The training course aligns protection practices with key cybersecurity and power system standards, including IEC 61850, IEC 62443, IEC 62351, and IEEE 1686, ensuring regulatory and operational consistency.  

Yes, the course focuses on designing and securing substation networks, including protection communications, time synchronization, access control, and secure data exchange between IEDs.  

Participants gain practical capability in protection scheme implementation, secure IED configuration, cybersecurity assessment, incident response planning, and integrated testing of protection and security controls.  

Organisations operating transmission and distribution networks, substations, and critical grid infrastructure benefit significantly by improving protection reliability, reducing cyber risk, and strengthening operational resilience.  

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