As utilities around the world have initiated major smart grid infrastructure upgrades over the past several years, cyber security has become a critical priority. Security measures are designed to protect the electrical grid from attacks by terrorists and hackers, as well as strengthening its resilience against natural disasters and inadvertent threats such as equipment failures and user errors.

According to a new report from Pike Research, the intense focus on smart grid cyber security from utilities, infrastructure vendors, standards bodies, and world governments is spurring a surge in revenue growth, and the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that the sector will increase from $1.2 billion in 2009 to $3.7 billion by 2015. During the period from 2010 to 2015, Pike Research anticipates that a total of approximately $21 billion will be invested in global smart grid cyber security deployments.

“No utility wants to be the weak link in the chain,” says managing director Clint Wheelock. “The concern over grid vulnerability is driving utility technologists to work closely with systems integrators, infrastructure suppliers, and standards bodies to develop a robust framework for smart grid cyber security across multiple domains.” Wheelock adds that this process has accelerated over the past year, spurred in large part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s smart grid stimulus programs, the standards initiatives of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and key priorities promoted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Pike Research forecasts that equipment protection and configuration management will be the largest security category over the next several years. Among smart grid applications, the firm expects that the greatest investments will go into cyber security for distribution automation (DA) and transmission upgrades, followed by security measures for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) smart meters.

Pike Research’s report, “Smart Grid Cyber Security”, analyzes global market trends in terms of business drivers, technologies, standards, objectives, and requirements. The report examines five key cyber security categories: policy/planning/awareness, equipment protection and configuration management, monitoring and incidence response, access/audit/integrity, and risk management. It includes profiles of key industry players and detailed market forecasts for world regions, segmented by application, through 2015. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, Corporate Sustainability, and Building Efficiency sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.953.9765.