The energy sector is sharpening its focus on cybersecurity amid growing concerns about IT threats. The energy sector is up against two major cyber threats: If you missed the first part of the series, read it for a … Reliability of energy infrastructure is critically important for modern societies. But we are still in the Cold War era of attacks against energy utilities. CESER’s cybersecurity program supports activities in three key areas: Strengthening energy sector cybersecurity preparedness New cyber vulnerabilities in the energy infrastructure are discovered on a weekly basis which results in a vicious cycle where there is a constant struggle to patch up the newly emerging holes in the protective cloak. The power sector is one of the most frequently targeted and first to respond to cyber threats with mandatory controls. Every day, we rely on energy to drive to work, heat and cool our offices, conduct our business, and power the internet. The FBI-hosted meeting was the latest in a string of briefings for energy companies since cyberattacks were directed against several natural gas pipelines in April 2018. Defining the threat in the energy sector By analyzing their motivation and procedures we gain a better understanding of who might be a target and why. Separat e . EECSP Report: Cyber Security in the Energy Sector February 2017 6 an energy cyber security strategy by analysis of respective cyber security challenges and existing policy papers with the aim to recommend actions for consideration by the European Commission. As we explored in Part One of the series, many different threat actors target the sector for its riches and its criticality in consumer’s and business’ every day operations. photo/ Gerd Altmann via pixabay. Example breaches and threats targeting the energy sector. Cyberthreat Information Sharing in the Energy Sector. Afraid of the Dark: Cyber Threats to the Energy Sector (Part One) Posted July 18, 2019. In the second installment of this series, we explore the different attack vectors used against the energy sector. Cyber Threats in the Sector Continue to Rise Cyber threats to critical operational technology systems can create devastating consequences for the physical world, resulting in equipment failure, power outages, or even fires and explosions within affected plants. In the first installment of this series, we will explore the different threat actor groups that target the energy sector. ... from sharing what they learn about ongoing and potential threats. Afraid of the Dark: Cyber Threats to the Energy Sector (Part Two) Posted July 24, 2019. The Canadian energy sector has been buying Internet-connected sensors for monitoring a range of activities in generating plants, distribution networks and home smart meters for several years. EECSP Report: Cyber Security in the Energy Sector February 2017 6 an energy cyber security strategy by analysis of respective cyber security challenges and existing policy papers with the aim to recommend actions for consideration by the European Commission. Cyber Attacks on Energy Sector: Are There Reasons to Worry? Energy’s a highly targeted industry, said Smith. Denmark has the world's best energy system largely due to its top position within energy security. But threats continue to evolve, reaching into industrial control systems and supply chains, and requiring even greater efforts to manage risk. As one of the sixteen national critical infrastructure sectors, it is vital that energy companies are able to adequately defend themselves from advance persistent attacks, industrial espionage and state sponsored attacks.