Cyber Security and the National Power Grid: A BATTLE FOR CONTROL SYSTEMS

摘要

USA Today recently completed an investigation suggesting physical or online attacks to the national power grid in the United States occur "almost once every four days." While one might quibble with the numerical accuracy of this study, or with the definition of what constitutes an actual attack, few would argue with the clear trend toward increased cyber security issues in the energy industry. Three powerful forces appear to be driving this cyber security problem in the sector: First, malicious actors of all sorts, including nation state groups, terrorist cells, organized criminals and individual hackers, have raised their games substantially. This advancement of capability is not, however, unique to the energy industry, even though grid components and systems are certainly high value targets. Instead, all, industrial sectors, especially ones considered critical infrastructure, are now forced to deal with a more capable cyber adversary.