A new report from Navigant Research examines
the drivers behind the evolution of distributed systems management in
the Energy Cloud, focusing on the role blockchain plays in creating a
framework for device-level trust.
As
the Energy Cloud transformation progresses and the number of
interconnected devices in distributed systems grows, the centralized
command and control model must give way to a new model that increasingly
relies on automated processes at the grid edge. As automation
increases, distributed systems operators must develop a framework for
device-level trust to avoid creating new vectors for cyber attacks,
fraud, or network manipulation while continuing to provide a
high-quality experience to end users.
"Blockchain
augments existing systems management technologies with an
authentication layer that enables devices in a network to constantly
verify each others' identity, location, state, or status," says
Johnathon de Villier, research analyst with Navigant Research. "System
operators can further expand their capabilities by combining blockchain
with parallel technologies such as machine learning, artificial
intelligence, and cybersecurity suites."
According
to the report, partnerships between utilities and blockchain technology
companies are exploring applications for blockchain in this space, from
straightforward cybersecurity applications to entirely new models for
balancing the grid.
The report, Blockchain Establishes a Secure Foundation for Distributed Systems Management,
explores the drivers behind the evolution of distributed systems
management in the Energy Cloud and focuses on the role blockchain plays
in creating a framework for device-level trust. The report examines the
push for performance-based utility evaluation around the world and the
strains that rapidly increasing volumes of data are placing on systems
operators, emphasizing that blockchain is one piece of a larger strategy
to adapt to these changes. It concludes with recommendations for
anticipating this evolution in grid management and explores blockchain's
role in that context.
An Executive Summary of the report is available
for free download on the Navigant Research website.