Security is enabled in an electrical system by examining a configuration file for a substation present in the electrical system, where the substation includes one or more electrical devices and one or more network devices. Based on the examination of the configuration file, information is determined on a characteristic of an electrical device that is selected from a group including a type, allowed role of the electrical device and allowed communication modes for the electrical device. Based on the determined information, a basis for controlling the role and communication modes for the electrical device is identified. A security policy is configured in a network device in the substation to incorporate the identified basis. Based on the configured security policy in the network device, communication patterns for the electrical device are allowed that are associated with the allowed role and allowed communication modes for the electrical device.