Back
Behind the firewall: a discussion on the evolution of cybersecurity in the utility industry
May 22, 2020
The utility sector is being transformed - and this process has opened the industry up to a new range of cyber-threats. Attacks will continue to escalate in frequency and complexity. Here, two industry experts give their views on this new paradigm - and what the sector can do to protect itself and its customers.
The utility industry is undergoing a massive transformation. Everything from the digitalization of critical infrastructure to the relationship between utilities and their customers is in transition. In the past decade, sophisticated organizations have seized on the promise of data from information technology (IT) to optimize operational technology (OT), including legacy power-generation assets, digitally native energy sources and distribution systems. While the push to increase connectivity has helped the utility industry achieve greater efficiency, reduce emissions, and deliver reliable and affordable power to customers, it has also exposed weaknesses in its cyber defenses.
Cyberattacks now threaten the core value proposition for energy companies. Digital OT makes an attractive target for a host of actors whose objectives range from financial gain to sheer disruption - and today, a cyber arms-race is the new normal for utilities and their suppliers. As digital technologies spread through and add value to energy infrastructure, attacks will continue to escalate in frequency and sophistication.
8Shares
0Comments
0Favorites
2Likes
Say something to impress...
Loading...
Comments
Hot

No content at this moment.

Relevant people
Technology Eye
43583 Followers
technology
Watch on technology.
Related