Protecting Our Energy Grid from Cyberthreats
Denver—(May 5, 2023) — Electricity powers nearly every aspect of our daily lives, from the lights in our homes to the devices we rely on for work and communication. The electric energy grid is a complex network of energy sources, transmission lines, and distribution infrastructure that keeps our world running. However, this network is also vulnerable to cyberattacks, and the consequences of a successful attack could be catastrophic.
Recently, High Touch’s Cybersecurity Practice Manager, Jason Fenoglio, participated in a roundtable sponsored by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce titled “Analysis of the Energy Grid: What You Need to Know.” Other participants included Salman Mohagheghi, Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering Department, Colorado School of Mines, and Drew Bolin, Director of Strategic Communications, Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
The Villager, a Denver-area publication, covered the event where Jason shared his insights and expertise on the threats cybercriminals pose to our energy grid. Read on to learn more about Jason’s insights and the importance of safeguarding our energy infrastructure.
Recap – The Electric Energy Grid: What You Need To Know
The Villager’s article begins with an overview of the energy grid provided by Dr. Mohagheghi, outlining the basics of the electric energy grid, including its purpose, history, and current state. It then delves into the different energy sources used to power the grid, such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
The article also discusses how the energy grid works and how energy is generated, transmitted, and distributed across the grid.
Cybersecurity and the Energy Grid
In discussing the growing number of devices on the energy grid, Jason emphasized the importance of cybersecurity, as it’s a relatively new concern for the energy grid. The article quotes Jason, saying, “There are a lot of ‘smart’ appliances that take a lot of energy and are consistently being attacked, and we don’t have the consumer education out there to talk to people about changing their passwords, changing their default configurations. A simple attacker going in and creating a botnet within a localized area could successfully bring high demand to the grid. There are definitely complex attacks being orchestrated now…”
The article also discusses how the energy grid will change in the coming years, and how the ever-increasing demand for electricity will lead to structural changes in the grid.
Jason pointed to two recent attacks in North Carolina, “where people were shooting at the grid” and shut down a local system for several days, adding that the U.S. Department of Energy has brought on the Office of Cybersecurity Energy Security and Emergency Response to protect the energy grid, allocating $45 million to begin to research how to provide that protection.
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If you’re looking to secure your organization’s data, High Touch offers cybersecurity solutions to businesses across industries. Our team of experts can help you identify vulnerabilities and implement proactive security measures to safeguard your business.
Contact us today to learn more about our managed and advanced cybersecurity solutions.