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                                        The Secure Automation Developer's Resource

OPUS Publishing was created in 1999 by Dennis Holstein and John Tengdin.

The name OPUS was selected because it means "a creative work", and a creative work related to Substation Automation for Electric Power Delivery was the cornerstone of what is published on our web site. The hot topic is communication between Intelligent Electronic Devices that provides the capability to integrate substation protection, control and data acquisition on a single substation local area network.

Before September 11, 2001

For many years, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) contracted for advanced research into the best way to achieve an open communication system for substation automation. Unlike many technologies in the field of Electric Power Engineering in which the technology changes very slowly, communications is a rapidly changing technology which opens the door to a radically different approach to SCADA and protection. Within several standards making organizations, supported by study groups and industry trade organization the selection of the best technology to define an open communication system is a hotly debated topic.

The debate continues, but many utilities, vendors and consultants can not afford to attend the meetings which are held in cities throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Africa. Interest in substation automation is now emerging from South America and Asia, and several meetings are being scheduled in those continents to develop for publication an international standard.

After September 11, 2001

After September 11, 2001 the emphasis changed from simply how best to design and deploy an automation system to ensure that the underlying enabling communications were secure. Strong access control (authentication) and getting the clear text off the line were at the top of the list. We needed to ensure that only those who needed the information had access to the data, and we needed to come up with a scheme to control the permission rights to that data. We needed a combination of an infosec and comsec solution!

The most aggressive initiative to adding communication security to SCADA was, and still is, pursued by the Gas Technology Institute (GTI). OPUS Publishing became a key member of their development team to establish a recommended practice to ensure that SCADA communications were secure and we could enforce strong access control to maintenance ports of field devices. This work is codified in forthcoming AGA Report 12 - a series of reports addressing the General Recommendations (AGA 12), the Retrofit Solution (AGA 12-1), the IP-based Network Solution (AGA 12-2), and the Embedded Solution (AGA 12-3).

OPUS Publishing also became a member of the Sandia National Laboratories team to work with Gas and Electric utilities to perform a demonstration of critical cryptographic functions needed for the retrofit solution. Lessons learned from these demonstrations are used to improve the AGA 12-1 specifications and to refine the test plan to perform performance and interoperability testing with our utility partners.

Under other government funded initiatives, OPUS Publishing is assisting in the development of a Key Management Subsystem needed to efficiently managing all the keying materials used by the cryptographic modules. Work on a full prototype system integrating all components including an advanced Intrusion Detection System is planned for the near future.

Standards making organizations, of which OPUS Publishing is an active member, are taking the experiences learned to develop international standards that extend the requirements for electric and gas transmission and distribution systems to water, wastewater, and pipeline systems. In addition the is a very focused effort to develop similar standards for process control - manufacturing and control systems. And, rail transportation systems also are interested in these solution sets.

Become proactive

Few people can afford to attend all these meetings. In this environment OPUS Publishing was created. With our internet subscription service, you will have affordable participation in the development of an open communication system for secure automation systems. Dennis Holstein is Publisher and John Tengdin is Editor-in-Chief of OPUS Publishing. We invite you to participate in our interactive workshops and take advantage of our resource library. See our home page to signup for a subscription.

With our knowledge of industry-wide activities, we and our associates are also available as consultants on special projects.

How can I contract for OPUS Publishing Consulting Service?

OPUS Publishing Consulting Service is based on a standard consulting agreement. The agreement states the basic terms and conditions of the agreement, and the fee schedule to perform work. Task orders are then assigned to perform specific work. Each task order includes a description of the task, funding in total US dollars to perform the task, and a schedule of milestones to complete the task.

Please send an EMAIL to either Dennis Holstein or John Tengdin to discuss your needs for OPUS Publishing Consulting Service.

Where do you want to go now?

Send mail to postmaster@opusss.com with questions or comments about this web site.

OPUS Publishing and OPUS Subscription Service are trademarks of OPUS Publishing. All other products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
Copyright © 2001 OPUS Publishing. All rights reserved.
Last modified: Sunday August 01, 2004 .