## 1 Introduction  
Until a few years ago, the main areas of research related to power electronic devices (PEDs) were mainly in a few standard areas/topics such as proposing new circuit schematics of different types of power converters, using new elements in the fabrication of power semiconductors, and using different methods, techniques, and circuit schematics to increase the efficiency of power converters. Now, with the rapid development of IP networks and their penetration into all areas of life, a new topic of research has been added to the above-mentioned main areas of research related to PEDs. This topic concerns studies related to the cyber security of PEDs, as well as studies related to the characterization of the communication traffic that PEDs generate. These studies can be grouped together under the most general heading of \"network studies\". Research in this new topic is growing, and the results of this research are beginning to be a very important part of the characteristics and capabilities of a network capable PED (the ability to connect to communication networks, in part to IP networks). Power electronic devices (PEDs), as well as energy storage systems, have long been able to connect to communication networks, in particular to IP networks and mainly to the Internet. Thanks to this functionality, these devices can be monitored remotely from great distances, as well as controlled remotely. This is a great convenience in today's world. As a convenience, this functionality appears to be a vulnerability and a great danger for these devices. In the modern world, any device that is connected to the Internet can be a victim of some form of cyberattack. The result of the attack can be anything from simply making the device unavailable for a period of time, to the much more dangerous options of having the device controlled and monitored by individuals who have no right to do so (i.e., being hacked). The hacked PED could be part of some critical network/infrastructure and the breach could render the entire critical infrastructure inoperable. It is therefore necessary to test and study whether the data exchange between the PED and the monitoring and control center is secure before installing a PED in such critical infrastructure. The study of whether the exchanged information is secure or not can be most easily and quickly accomplished by using IP network modeling platforms. Thanks to these platforms, models of IP networks composed of multiple and different network devices can be created [1; 2; 3]. This can create a miniature model of the real IP network to which a PED would connect and subject it to tests to verify the security of information exchange. Furthermore, through this model of an experimental IP network, different methods, techniques, and technologies can be applied to secure the information transmitted by the PED. Thanks to these platforms, one can trace and monitor in real time what is happening in the modeled IP network when using the corresponding technique or technology to secure the data exchange. Thus, after the end of the study, it can be stated with certainty whether the information generated by the studied PED is secure or, if it is not secure, whether the techniques, methods, and technologies applied have resulted in ensuring the security of the data generated by the PED. This work will demonstrate the capability of the GNS3 IP network modeling platform to be used to study whether data exchange between a PED and a workstation (control center) is secure. If the information exchange is not secure, then again using GNS3, ways to secure the information exchange will be demonstrated. This work is indirectly related to energy efficiency management in computer and communication networks. The commonality between the presented research and energy efficiency management in computer and communication networks is the cyber security of PEDs that are used to power network devices and servers in critical infrastructures.