A surge of cybersecurity for the energy sector

Issue 6 2023 Government and Parastatal (Industry), Cyber Security

With a rapid transition towards renewable energy, the energy sector increasingly relies on technology. This makes it particularly vulnerable regarding cybersecurity, as it depends on interconnected systems and digital technologies; these interactions are a breeding ground for threats such as ransomware and phishing attacks.

In this article, we explore the cybersecurity challenges the energy sector faces and discuss 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 cyberattack 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.

Given the energy sector's expansive footprint, 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. The World Economic Forum stated that "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 is 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 makes it an attractive target for cybercriminals seeking confidential information and financial gain. Some common cybersecurity threats 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, where 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

Implementing robust security measures is vital to protect 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.

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 enables businesses to avoid potential cyber threats by analysing, prioritising, and responding to incidents in real time.

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.

Considering the vulnerable nature of the energy sector, the industry must 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, contact SecurityHQ Southern Africa, +27 11 702 8555, [email protected], www.SecurityHQ.com




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

NEC XON modernises its security operations using MDR
iOCO Software News Cyber Security
The landscape of cyber threats has evolved dramatically, with cybercriminals becoming more interconnected and resourceful. This shift has necessitated the rapid acceleration of MDR services, which serve as a formidable bulwark against the modern adversary and promote business resilience.

Read more...
Protect your financial assets from unknown online threats
Products Cyber Security Financial (Industry)
Malicious actors employ a myriad of sophisticated techniques, such as hacking, phishing, spamming, card theft, online fraud, vishing, and keylogging, among others, to exploit unsuspecting individuals and gain unauthorised access to their financial resources.

Read more...
Cyber incidents result in a 9% decrease in shareholder value
News Cyber Security
Aon published its 2023 Cyber Resilience Report, revealing that, on average, a significant cyber incident resulted in a 9% decrease in shareholder value – over and above the market – in the year following the event.

Read more...
Automated ransomware recovery
Products Cyber Security
Organisations can now automatically recover from ransomware attacks with the capabilities in Cisco XDR, where the company is adding recovery to the response process by including infrastructure and enterprise data backup and recovery vendors.

Read more...
Best practice tips for strengthening data privacy system
Security Services & Risk Management Cyber Security
International cybercriminals are increasingly targeting South African organizations, making data privacy more difficult to maintain. A standardization expert offers insight to help combat this threat.

Read more...
AI-powered cyber protection for consumers
IT infrastructure Cyber Security
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is designed for the evolving landscape of cyber threats by integrating Acronis' cyber protection and secure backup solutions, combining AI-powered defence mechanisms, robust data backup, remote management tools, and mobile device protection.

Read more...
Secure backup strategies imperative for business continuity
IT infrastructure Cyber Security
Cybercrime is on the rise, and businesses need to adjust how they manage their data to fend off attackers, or risk irreparable damage, writes Lisa Strydom, Senior Manager Channel and Alliance for Africa at Veeam Software.

Read more...
CHI selects NEC XON as trusted cybersecurity partner
News Cyber Security Industrial (Industry)
CHI Limited, Nigeria's leading market player in fruit juices and dairy products, has engaged in a strategic cybersecurity partnership with NEC XON, a pan-African ICT systems integrator.

Read more...
From overwhelm to oversight
Editor's Choice Cyber Security Products
Security automation is vital in today’s world, and Microsoft Sentinel is a widely adopted, but complex answer. ContraForce is an easy-to-use add-on that automatically processes, verifies and warns of threats round-the-clock.

Read more...
Kaspersky appoints new GM for Africa
News Cyber Security
Kaspersky has announced the appointment of Andrew Voges as the new General Manager for Africa to boost regional market positioning and enterprise protection.

Read more...