The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) maintains comprehensive reliability standards that define requirements for planning and operating the bulk electric system (BES). Among these are the Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Cyber Security Standards, which specify a minimum set of controls and processes for power generation and transmission companies to follow to ensure...

Overview There is mounting concern at the senior executive and board level regarding cybersecurity, driven by highly visible advanced targeted attacks. These attacks threaten precious IP, valuable customer information, company valuation and trade secrets. To truly protect valuable resources, organizations have to accept the nature of modern networked environments and devices, and start defending...

The cybersecurity skills gap can leave many organizations without adequate staffing for the operation of their security tools. High turnover rates can also cause an organization to lose essential knowledge when team members leave who were familiar with the tools. To complicate matters further, the pandemic is driving the need for temporary cybersecurity support as agencies navigate new, remote...

The cybersecurity skills gap leaves Federal agencies without adequate staffing for the operation of their security tools. High turnover rates can also cause agencies to lose essential knowledge when team members leave who were familiar with the tools. To complicate matters further, the pandemic is driving the need for temporary cybersecurity support as agencies navigate new, remote work...

More attention is being paid to risks around the supply chain in the bulk electricity system (BES). When third-party vendors introduce new products, software and personnel into a power supplier’s environment, the potential for new cyber risks increases. For this reason, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recently added a new set of requirements to its Critical...

Some of our nation’s most critical physical infrastructure is represented by the national Bulk Electric Systems (BES). Today’s digital world relies upon this interconnected network of power generation and transmission systems more than ever. To ensure the reliability and resilience of that network, providers must continually manage threats to the infrastructure, including many that relate to...

Industrial operators subject to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP) standard know that achieving compliance is no minor feat, and serious strategic consideration is required to ensure efficient resource use in the compliance process. By meeting NERC CIP compliance, these companies take important steps towards securing their IT/OT...

The NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection standards are designed to enhance reliability of the electrical supply by securing the connected assets on which that supply relies. When building a program for NERC CIP compliance, registered entities must balance the need to be audit ready with the resources required to achieve and maintain compliance. NERC CIP version 6 increases the amount of work...