A surge of cybersecurity for the energy sector
16 August 2023
With a rapid transition towards renewable energy, the energy sector has an increased reliance on technology. This makes it particularly vulnerable with regards to cyber security, as it depends on interconnected systems and digital technologies that make interactions a breeding ground for threats such as ransomware and phishing attacks.
In this article, SecurityHQ explores the current cybersecurity challenges faced by the energy sector and discusses potential solutions to mitigate these risks.
Understanding key vulnerabilities
Although the energy industry, encompassing the electric-power and gas sectors, faces cybersecurity threats like those encountered by other industries, it also has specific vulnerabilities that require specific attention.
A cyber-attack against an energy provider can lead to widespread power outages, significant economic losses, damage to physical infrastructure, and compromise the safety of workers and the public. The widespread impact of a security breach is astronomical.
According to Statista, “The market will reach over two trillion US dollars by 2030”. Given the expansive footprint of the energy sector, spanning various domains and geographical locations, it becomes a prime target for cyber threats. This, in turn, opens many potential entry points for threat actors.
In addition, as energy companies continue to embrace digital transformation and leverage emerging technologies to streamline operations, it also exposes the industry to a broader attack surface.
In fact, The World Economic Forum stated, “As one of the world’s most sophisticated and complex industries makes a multifaceted transition – from analogue to digital, from centralised to distributed and from fossil-based to low-carbon – managing cyber risk and preventing cyber threats are quickly becoming critical to company value chains.”
Common cybersecurity threats to the energy industry
The critical role of the energy industry in powering economies and supporting essential services, which makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking confidential information and financial gain, with 63 to 95 percent of attacks contributing to the latter.
Some of the common cybersecurity threats that the energy sector faces include Ransomware Attacks. The Colonial Pipeline attack of May 2021 is among the most significant cyberattacks against oil infrastructure in the history of the US, wherein attackers gained access to Colonial Pipeline Co.’s network via an employee’s stolen VPN password to obtain 100 GB of data for a ransom of 75-bitcoin.
Supply chain attacks are another significant cybersecurity threat faced by the energy industry, whereby attackers exploit vulnerabilities in the supply chain ecosystem to gain unauthorised access to critical systems or compromise the integrity of software and hardware components.
One of the most notable attacks in the energy sector was the SolarWinds attack of 2020, which enabled the attackers' unauthorised access into the company’s systems by injecting trojan code into their Orion software updates.
Enhancing cyber resilience in the energy sector
• Robust security measures
Implementing robust security measures is vital to ensure the protection of critical assets and infrastructure within the energy industry. This includes network segmentation to enhance security, enabling firewalls to control network traffic, and providing comprehensive security awareness training to employees.
• Comprehensive threat monitoring
One of the most critical aspects of mitigating cyberattacks in the energy sector is conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify and prioritise potential cyber threats and vulnerabilities specific to the industry. SecurityHQ’s managed detection and response (MDR) solution, for example, enables businesses to avoid potential cyber threats by analysing, prioritising, and responding to incidents in real-time.
• Incident response planning
Incident response planning is a crucial component of cybersecurity in the Energy industry. It involves establishing a well-defined and structured approach to handling and mitigating security incidents.
Next steps
Considering the vulnerable nature of the energy sector, it is imperative for the industry to prioritise cybersecurity measures. By recognising these cybersecurity challenges and implementing appropriate solutions, the industry can mitigate risks, protect critical assets and infrastructure, and ensure the reliable and secure delivery of energy services.
For more information on improving your security, or if you have any questions, speak to an expert at SecurityHQ.