As inverter-based resources (IBRs) continue to reshape the grid, the silent threat of misconfiguration looms large. These devices may be smarter than traditional rotating machines, but when they’re set up incorrectly—or not updated to reflect evolving conditions—they introduce serious vulnerabilities to both system reliability and cybersecurity.
The Devil’s in the Defaults
Inverters ship from the factory with default settings intended for a wide range of general use cases. But power systems are not one-size-fits-all. If installers or operators fail to reconfigure these defaults to suit site-specific requirements, those devices can behave unpredictably under stress—tripping offline during grid disturbances or failing to ride through faults as expected.
The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has documented this risk in their Inverter-Based Resource Performance Issues Report (2023). The report highlights instances where improper inverter configurations led to unnecessary tripping during faults and reduced reactive power support, negatively affecting voltage regulation and system stability (see Sections 5.3 and 6.1).
Cybersecurity Blind Spots
It’s not just about electrical stability. Inverter misconfigurations can also open doors to attackers.
Many IBRs support remote configuration and monitoring—great for flexibility, but risky when access controls are weak. Default passwords, open ports, and inconsistent firmware management make these devices attractive entry points for threat actors.
The Forescout SUN:DOWN Report (2023) uncovered 46 vulnerabilities across inverter products from Sungrow, SMA, and Growatt. These vulnerabilities included weak authentication, hardcoded credentials, and unsecured remote access that could be exploited to alter configurations or shut down systems remotely. The report’s “Inverter Attack Scenarios” section outlines how threat actors could exploit configuration weaknesses to degrade grid performance or cause instability.
The Complexity Problem
IBRs are often integrated through third-party aggregators, EMS systems, or SCADA interfaces. Each of those layers introduces configuration complexity, and unfortunately, no one vendor is typically responsible for validating the full chain. That leaves utilities and operators on the hook to perform end-to-end verification—but many don’t have the visibility or tooling to catch misconfigurations until something goes wrong.
The NIST IR 8498 (Initial Public Draft), titled Cybersecurity of Distributed Energy Resources: A Guide for Small-Scale Solar Inverters, calls this out directly: “Improperly configured DERs can exacerbate anomalies on the electric grid,” and emphasizes the need for secure, coordinated commissioning and monitoring of inverter-based devices (see NIST IR 8498 Section 2.2).
So What Can Be Done?
- Baseline Verification: Create a golden configuration profile for each inverter model and verify field devices match it.
- Commissioning Checklists: Include security and electrical settings validation as part of every deployment.
- Ongoing Audits: Inverter configurations shouldn’t be “set and forget.” Implement periodic checks and alerts for unauthorized or unexpected changes.
- Vendor Coordination: Hold OEMs accountable for secure defaults, proper documentation, and timely patching guidance.
As IBRs take on a bigger role in grid stability and ancillary services, their settings aren’t just technical details—they’re part of your risk posture.
Don’t let misconfigurations turn smart devices into soft targets.
References:
- NERC (2023). Inverter-Based Resource Performance Issues Report. https://www.nerc.com/comm/RSTC_Reliability_Guidelines/NERC_Inverter-Based_Resource_Performance_Issues_Public_Report_2023.pdf
- Forescout Research Labs (2023). SUN:DOWN: Insecure Solar Inverter Systems and the Risk to the Grid. https://www.forescout.com/blog/grid-security-new-vulnerabilities-in-solar-power-systems-exposed/
- NIST (2023). NIST IR 8498: Cybersecurity of Distributed Energy Resources – A Guide for Small-Scale Solar Inverters. https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/ir/8498/ipd