green with IT: Energy efficiency as a driver of new business models

Smart home technologies are poised to revolutionize our living and working environments within buildings. Emerging software and hardware applications open up thrilling design options for landlords, tenants and building owners.

In the green with IT network, achelos will collaborate with innovative application partners from the housing and building sector to conduct trials on the deployment of Smart Meter Gateways and Public Key Infrastructures. This also involves expanding their functionality to include monitoring water and heat consumption in defined pilot tests, with subsequent implementation as needed. The results are published to foster the creation of numerous disruptive applications, aiming to drive widespread adoption through competitive pricing strategies.

Key role for the Smart Meter Gateway

The Smart Meter Gateway is the central communication unit for intelligent metering systems in the energy sector. It is developed in accordance with BSI specifications.

The BSI is the guardian of the Technical Guidelines

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has compiled protection profiles and technical guidelines (TR 03109). They are obligatory under the Metering Point Operation Act (MsbG) and ensure compliance with data protection, data security and interoperability standards for smart metering systems based on the latest technological advancements. This includes the minimum requirements for:

• Intelligent metering systems (§ 21)
• The Smart Meter Gateway (§ 22)
• Secure connection to the Smart Meter Gateway (§ 23)
• Certification of the Smart Meter Gateway in accordance with Common Criteria (§ 24)
• Certification of the Smart Meter Gateway Administrator (§ 25)

As the authority responsible for a standardised level of security and interoperability, the BSI is responsible for the ongoing development of the documentation. It takes the initiative to rewrite and revise existing protection profiles and technical guidelines in response to potential new threat scenarios arising from technical progress or other use cases, such as the Smart Home.

achelos provides assistance to the management of the housing and energy sectors in making informed decisions regarding the adoption and implementation of Smart Meter Gateways and Public Key Infrastructures.

Security for future IoT applications in everyday life in the housing sector: 

• Definition of security requirements in accordance with ISO 27001 and BSI basic protection
• Design of the IT security policy, its strategies and guidelines
• Preparation of the IT security concept
• Draft of the IT security architecture
• Development of the IT security organisation concept and required processes
• Analysis of remaining risks
• Definition of the back-up and contingency plan
• Preparation and support for CC evaluation and CC certification
• Preparation of requirements-compliant documentation

green with IT is an initiative of 24 companies consisting of partners from scientific institutions and SMEs.