## 1 Introduction
However, no simulator can simulate both power and communication networks because their simulation requires separate solvers, for there is a difference in the dynamic behavior of power and communication networks [13]. Therefore, there is a necessity for a single platform that combines power and communication networks (co-simulation). It provides a foundation for investigating various research studies, considering the impact of communication and cyber risks on the power system operation [14]. The authors in [15] implemented the integration between Open DSS and ns3 with Mosaik, highlighting its application for voltage regulation in distribution grids. In [16], based on high-level architecture (HLA), the work proposed a co-simulation platform called INSPIRE, where the DIgSILENT Power Factory simulates the power system and OPNET emulates the communication network. Furthermore, OPAL-RT and OPNET have formed a co-simulation platform [17] for controlling the load bus voltage in a simple distribution system by switching the capacitor bank ON/OFF. This study has simulated the percentage of occupancy in the communication channel using background traffic generators and its effect on the value of latency. On the contrary, they did not address the impact of changing communication delays on the performance of the power system. Microgrids play a crucial role as an integral part of the smart grid, utilizing a variety of DGs to meet rising energy consumption at the distribution level. They can operate in grid-connected and islanded modes of operation; particularly, islanded inverter-based microgrids contribute to power system sustainability by providing a resilient power supply and minimizing the reliance on the utility grid [18]. A pivotal aspect of operating these systems is the control strategy, which is essential in managing the power-sharing between the DGs within the MG to meet the load requirements under different operating conditions. Hierarchical control is the current way of controlling MG operation, comprising three layers of control: primary control, secondary control, and tertiary control [18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23]. The primary control layer includes the local controllers for all the DGs within the microgrid for autonomous power-sharing during system operation. In comparison, the secondary control is responsible for restoring the system frequency/voltage to its rated values under different conditions. In this paper, we focus on the primary and secondary control layers. Droop control in the primary control layer controls and preserves the frequency stability of each inverter within the MG for generating the reference voltage and frequency at each operating condition [20; 21; 22; 23; 24]. It is a communication-less power-sharing control, as within this layer, each inverter-based distributed generator has its local droop control [22]. However, the frequency deviation caused by the droop control is the major drawback to using this way of control [23]; introducing a secondary control layer helps eliminate this deviation [19]. Nevertheless, while operating in real-world scenarios, the communication network infrastructure between the primary and secondary control layers directly affects the system response. The communication network characteristics regarding network topology, data rate, communication latency, and cyber-attack vulnerability impact the MG control system [25]. Therefore, a recommendation is to study the MGs as cyber-physical systems to evaluate their performance under various operating conditions, assessing the cyber vulnerability that affects the sustainability and security of the integrated power and communication system. Numerous studies have proposed diverse control strategies for controlling the operation of microgrids; the authors in [20] developed a detailed work for managing voltage source converters under an islanding mode of operation based on droop control. In [24], the authors presented a centralized secondary control scheme for voltage and frequency in an islanded inverter-based MG.