Audit Reveals Over 270 Power Grid Substations Missing ‘Next-Generation’ Firewalls Amid Escalating Cyber Threats

Over 270 substations operated by Power Grid India, commissioned before 2021 cybersecurity guidelines, lack next-generation firewalls, posing significant cyber risks. Installing advanced firewalls across 273 substations would cost around Rs 119 crore, which Power Grid finds difficult to accommodate under its current budget constraints. The issue will be discussed at the National Power Committee meeting in May 2025, focusing on cost recovery and a national firewall implementation roadmap. Despite firewall limitations, cybersecurity threats are rising, prompting the launch of the Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-Power) in 2024 to enhance sector-wide defense against increasingly frequent cyberattacks targeting critical power infrastructure.