Whitepapers

CIP Market Forecast 2014-2024

The safety and security of national critical infrastructure is currently of paramount concern for many nation states, as operators and organisations scramble to both secure their existing assets from a new range of threats, while at the same time invest in new developments which can boost economic growth. Cybersecurity issues in particular have emerged as the dominant factor in many Western nations’ homeland security posturing in recent years, dominating much of the new response planning and impacting on how private operators fit into overall defensive frameworks.

Utilities Infrastructure Security Market Forecast 2014-2024

The security of utilities infrastructure has always been important for governments and operating authorities alike, particularly after the events of the early 21st century. Yet now more than ever, there is renewed emphasis for protection as a result of the way in which cyber security issues have come to dominate new security thinking and planning in this sector.

California Aims to Incentivize Utilities to Adopt Third-Parties

The California Public Utilities Commission has recognized that utilities are hesitant to pursue third-party energy sources because they are riskier and are negatively impacted by doing so. In December 2016, the CPUC approved a pilot program to incentivize utilities to incorporate cost-effective distributed resources.Take a look into this whitepaper by Lexington Institute for even more on the future of the power grid.

Balancing Smart Grid Data and Consumer Privacy

The grid must encourage innovation and make electricity usage available to customers and businesses all while respecting consumers’ personal privacy and security. States that have implemented such policies include California, Texas, Illinois and Vermont. These actions will be analyzed and compared to inform other states of elements they could incorporate into future policies to allow customers, businesses and grid operators access to critical data.

Cyber Threat Data Sharing Needs Refinement

Technologies are being interconnected and integrated onto the nation’s electric grid to decrease weaknesses. However, these physical and computerized elements multiply the number of access points for cyber risks, making protection of the grid challenging. If done correctly, sharing cyber threat information eliminates the chances for one cyber threat or attack to affect multiple stakeholders.

Ensuring the Resilience of the U.S. Electrical Grid

This whitepaper, courtesy of the Lexington Institute, details the three main categories of investment for utility companies as they work to update and replace existing infrastructure. Many of the most important ongoing grid modernization and infrastructure improvements currently underway are focused on the development of a so-called “smart grid” that can (among other facets) better track power usage, measure it against traditional usage patterns, and identify anomalies. But long-term solutions must manage shared risks so that solutions do not slip between segments and sectors where governance gaps exist and direct responsibilities are unclear. As aging infrastructure is replaced and updated, embedding resilience within the electrical grid requires three main categories of investment: 1) managing and meeting overall demand to help avoid an adverse event; 2) expanding alternatives or substitute systems before and after an event; and 3) enabling rapid reconstitution if and when a disruption does occur.

Terrorism and the Electric Power Delivery System

The electric power transmission and distribution system (the grid) is a critical and extraordinarily complex part of the nation’s infrastructure. The National Academy of Engineering called the grid the world’s largest integrated machine and a central part of the greatest engineering achievement of the 20th century—electrification of modern society. Reliable electricity service is essential to health, welfare, national security, communication, and commerce. Because of its scale, geographic reach, and complexity, however, the grid also poses many security challenges in maintaining reliable operation. Furthermore, more than 90 percent of the U.S. power grid is privately owned and regulated by the states, making it challenging for the federal government to address potential vulnerabilities to its operation, and perhaps especially its vulnerability to terrorist attack. This report, prepared by a committee of dedicated experts assembled by the National Research Council (NRC), addresses those vulnerabilities and how they can be reduced.