Remote Access to the Eirgrid System is facilitated via Client Authentication Certificates

About Eirgrid
EirGrid plc is a leading Irish energy business, dedicated to the provision of transmission and market services for the benefit of electricity consumers. It is a state-owned commercial company.

EirGrid delivers high quality services to all customers, including generators, suppliers and consumers across the high voltage electricity system and via the efficient operation of the wholesale power market. It puts in place the grid infrastructure needed to support competition in energy, to promote economic growth, to facilitate more renewable energy, and to provide essential services.

EirGrid holds licences as independent electricity Transmission System Operator (TSO) and  Market Operator (MO) in the wholesale trading system in Ireland, and is the owner of the System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI Ltd),  the licenced TSO and market operator in Northern Ireland. The Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) is part of the EirGrid Group, and operates the Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland.

In its role of TSO in Ireland, EirGrid operates and maintains a safe, secure, reliable, economical and efficient transmission system, as well as developing key infrastructural projects which are vital for the socio-economic development of the State. Current projects include the East West Interconnector, Meath-Cavan and Cavan-Tyrone lines and the crucial Grid25 strategy. As TSO, EirGrid is regulated by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

The ICT requirement
EirGrid required a secure access solution in order to supply Information technology services to its clients. Post.Trust was chosen to supply this requirement. 

The Solution
The Post.Trust client authentication certificates, are used in the solution, giving Eirgrid a superior method of securing client access.

The solution provides client authentication from remote PCs to Eirgrid’s central system. Client authentication certificates remove the need to distribute and manage usernames and passwords to all remote users and provides a greater level of security and access control.

 Post.Trust Authentication Features solution for Eirgrid provides:

• Post.Trust digital certificate
• Real-time authentication
• A highly scalable solution
• Easy implementation and administration
• Multi-platform flexibility

This authentication product offering is supported by  Post.Trust’s experienced management and support team.  Utilising the latest technological advances, Post.Trust has provided a secure yet practical approach to online authentication for Eirgrid.