Nation State Threat Actions Against Critical Energy Infrastructures

摘要

The purpose of this capstone project was to examine vulnerabilities of the Energy Industry that could be exploited by Nation State Threat Actors and the impact as a result of a cyber-attack. The research questions were developed to identify key areas of concern as they relate to our nation's most critical infrastructure. This study explored what systems are currently being deployed within U.S. power grids and what response plans exist in the event of a cyber-attack against those systems. It included an investigation on how an Internet of Things device can be exploited and leveraged against current U.S. power grids and what Nation States pose potential threats. This study looked at a history of attacks against foreign energy infrastructure and examined the analysis that were done after those attacks. Those findings were then compared to existing systems used within the U.S. Energy Industry. The literature review process examined the current U.S. power grid system design, response plans to cyber-attacks on power grids, Nation States that could be identified as potential threats against the U.S. power grids and other critical infrastructures. The findings of this project found that the reality of a cyber-attack against the Energy Industry is not only possible but is probable.