Angie Walls
(photo by Pi-Lens from Shutterstock)
Published in The DeviceLine Blog by Mocana, February 11, 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) just announced a new initiative to assess the state of cyber security for the electric grid. DOE has already begun tapping numerous leads from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Homeland Security as well as both public and private utilities to contribute to this open forum on cyber security.

There has been a diversity of approaches among utilities. The DOE has recognized the pressing need to create an updated and universal approach. The goal — to offer modern guidance that addresses the risks (and resources needed) of a nationwide smart grid, to which we’ll be transitioning in the future.

By inviting a variety of stakeholders, this initiative acknowledges the range of risks that each utility faces, while providing an adaptable solution for everyone.

According to the U.S. DOE press release,

“Effectively managing cyber security risk in the electric grid will require utilities to have an integrated approach across missions, business processes and the control systems and information systems that support those processes”, said George Arnold, NIST’s National Coordinator for Smart Grid Interoperability.