SH Netz: Daily fight against 25,000 cyber attacks on the power supply!

SH Netz: Daily fight against 25,000 cyber attacks on the power supply!

SH Netz, the electricity network operator in Schleswig-Holstein, is confronted with an enormous number of cyber attacks every day. With around 25,000 firewall requests per day, the company has to make great efforts to ensure the security of its IT systems. Loud South Germans 95 percent of these requests are rejected, which indicates the effectiveness of the security measures in place. So far, no unauthorized request has been able to penetrate the IT system.

In order to optimize cyber security, SH Netz has set up its own department that continuously works with external specialists. In addition to modern IT security, physical protective measures are also implemented to prevent a potential risk of sabotage. These measures include identity checks, electronic locking systems, special fences, barriers and surveillance cameras. Despite the challenges posed by cyber attacks and occasional power outages, the power grids in Germany and especially in Schleswig-Holstein are considered extremely secure and stable.

Safety and quality of care

The quality of the electricity supply in Schleswig-Holstein is remarkable. Households in the SH network were without electricity for an average of only 8.68 minutes last year. This value is 32 percent below the national average of 12.8 minutes, based on disruption indicators Federal Network Agency.

Redispatch measures play an important role in the stability of the power grid. These are particularly important to prevent or eliminate network bottlenecks in the transmission network. The network operators instruct electricity-generating systems to feed either less or more electricity into the network in order to ensure a balanced ratio. These measures are essential, especially in times of high wind energy production and at the same time high demand in southern Germany.

Challenges in the power grid

Despite modern security precautions and the continuous improvement of network stability, the German transmission network is not yet sufficiently developed to meet increasing requirements. Grid bottlenecks occur particularly at times when many wind turbines in the north are producing electricity and there is high demand in the south. It is therefore crucial that network operators take targeted measures to stabilize the electricity network in order to be able to cope with future challenges.

Overall, the case of SH Netz shows how important both digital and physical security measures are to ensure the integrity of the critical infrastructure in Germany.