US issues guidance to prevent electric grid cyber attacks

New guidelines to help protect the electric grid from cyber attacks has been issued by the US Department of Energy. It lays out language that utilities and other energy sector […]

New guidelines to help protect the electric grid from cyber attacks has been issued by the US Department of Energy.

It lays out language that utilities and other energy sector organisations should use in the procurement process to ensure they’re buying the right products and features to prevent attacks in a bid to improve the overall reliability and security of energy delivery systems.

The issue of grid security has received a lot of attention in the US following a sniper attack that knocked out an electrical substation near San Jose, California last year.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: “As we deploy advanced technologies to make the US power grid more reliable and resilient, we must simultaneously advance cybersecurity protections. The cybersecurity guidance released today will help industry further strengthen these technologies and protect our critical energy infrastructure.”

Between 2010 and 2013, the Energy Department invested more than $100 million (£59.4m) in cybersecurity research, development and commercialisation projects.

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