Cyber Sentinels: Harnessing Deep Packet Inspection for Real-Time Defense of Substation

The digitalization of substations is transforming how utilities manage cybersecurity across protection, automation, and control systems. With the widespread adoption of IEC 61850, substation communication has evolved into a highly interconnected, Ethernet-based environment where operational technology (OT) networks are directly linked to real-time protection functions. As a result, cybersecurity is no longer an isolated IT concern but a systemlevel requirement that directly affects reliability, safety, and operational continuity.