Evolution of Cyber Ranges for Power Systems in China - from concept to implementation

Power grids, as essential infrastructure, face significant cyber threats that can disrupt operations and have severe socio-economic impacts. Power Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are characterized by low latency, wide-area influence, and deep integration with physical processes, making live security testing too risky. Consequently, high-fidelity cyber ranges—simulated platforms that replicate real power systems—have become vital for security assessment, training, and evaluating protective measures [1-4].
This paper identifies gaps in current research related to simulation accuracy, ICS representation, and cross-system validation. It defines the concept and objectives of a power system cyber range and suggests a hierarchical architecture for its systematic development.