# Smart Grid Protection, Automation and Control: Challenges and Opportunities
## 9 Conclusions
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline
**Aspect** & **Strengths** & **Weaknesses** & **Opportunities** & **Threats** \\ \hline Efficiency and & CPAC systems streamline & Transition involves managing & Exploring SaaS and IaaS & Technological advancements \\ Cost & operations and reduce costs. & significant technical and & models can drive innovation & may outpace current systems. \\ \hline Safety and & Improved safety through & Virtualized systems may & Leveraging big data and & Increased reliance in \\ and & non-traditional sensors. & experience performance issues & AI/ML for predictive analytics & cloud-based solutions may \\ Flexibility & & and increased latency. & and maintenance. & create single points of failure. \\ \hline Redundancy & Advanced redundancy & Ensuring full interoperability & Developing integrated & Cybersecurity threats such as \\ techniques like PRP enhance & between different & systems that combine physical & malware and ransomware \\ resilience and availability. & transmitters' IEDs & and digital elements can & pose risks to \\  & & remains challenging. & enhance reliability. & virtualized systems. \\ \hline Technology Integration & Adoption of modern & Dependency on cloud and & Partnerships and pilot & System integration with legacy \\ technologies like AI and ML & network infrastructure & programs can help identify & technologies may lead to \\ improves predictive capabilities. & requires robust management. & optimal solutions and best & compatibility issues. \\ \hline Data Management & AI/ML tools like ABB’s & Complexity of managing large & Utilizing analytics and big & Regulatory and compliance \\  & ADAM offer high-precision & amounts of data and ensuring & data can improve operational & challenges may arise with \\  & predictive analytics for & data integrity. & efficiency and & evolving standards \\  & & reduce downtime. & and requirements. \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 27: SWOT analysis for transitioning to VPAC systems. Based on these critical areas of improvement, the action plan presented in Table 28 is suggested. The final conclusion is that virtualization has huge potential and is ready for broader use, but several factors need to be considered in order to ensure the reliability, robustness, and security of the results. **Author Contributions:** Literature review, conceptualization: S.R., S.B. and M.N. Implementation and investigation of the research: S.R., S.B., M.N. and X.G. Writing--original draft preparation: S.R. Writing--review and editing: S.R., S.B., M.N. and X.G. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. **Funding:** This research was funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya, grant number 2023 DI 00094 with the support of the Pla de Doctorats Industrials del Departament de Recerca i Universitats de la Generalitat de Catalunya. **Acknowledgments:** The authors would like to thank [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON] from ABB Electrification Services, Spain & Portugal, and [PERSON] from ABB Distribution Solutions, Finland, for their valuable insights and contributions to this work. **Conflicts of Interest:** Authors [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON] employed by the company ABB. The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.