Smart Grid Security Confidence Game Part 2: Earning Operator Trust The momentum taking us towards more automated grid operations is now unstoppable, suggests security expert Andy Bochman. But he says that the confidence game needs to be expanded to include the folks who run the grid on a day-to-day basis. He raises an important point. Mar 16, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Security Class Now in Session: Getting Started (and Getting Smarter) You would have to pay a consultant big bucks for the incredibly detailed and spot-on advice about Smart Grid security you’re getting (for free) in today’s post by security expert Jack Danahy. Whether you’re just getting started down the security path or want to make sure you ace the course, don’t miss this one. Mar 9, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Seeing NERC CIP Through a Software Lens (and Why You Need a Plan B, C, D & E) Given that so much of the Smart Grid “smarts” involves new applications and other advances in software, security expert Andy Bochman says an important way to think about NERC CIP and your organization is to focus on your software assets. With compliance looming, you don't want to miss this one. Feb 16, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

NERC Insights on NIST’s Direction: Let's Have Some Urgency How do you wrap your head around NIST's latest draft of a cybersecurity framework - as in all 305 pages of it? Security expert Jack Danahy decided to look at comments made about the previous draft to see how they were handled in the current document. What he found may surprise you. Feb 9, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Putting a Price on Smart Grid Cyber Security: How About $21 Billion in Five Years? Massive global Smart Grid infrastructure upgrades have also spurred investments in cyber security to protect the electric grid from hackers and terrorists. Pike Research expects those investments to reach about $21 billion within five years. Feb 4, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Security: The Google Attack and What It Means for U.S. Utilities The sky isn't falling, but security expert Jack Danahy says the increase in frequency of cyber attacks against U.S. companies and government organizations is a serious wake-up call - doubly so for utilities engaged in the build out of a software-centric Smart Grid. His advice? Press for information, press for help and err on the side of over-preparation. He explains inside. Feb 3, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Insecurity, the Grid, and Getting Smarter About It All Here's a question that often pops up after a cybersecurity incident involving the grid: Why are utilities so far behind banks and retailers and even the government in IT security? But Smart Grid security expert Jack Danahy says it's really not a fair question. Utilities are a different beast and Jack says it's time to stop pointing fingers and start figuring out how to get where we need to go. Jan 13, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

The Great Cybersecurity Disconnect: Modern IT and the SCADA-Driven Grid Security expert Jack Danahy pulls no punches when he examines the disturbing collision of modern, internetworking IT and the existing SCADA-driven grid as it relates to cybersecurity. Should you be concerned? Jack says yes. Is there something you should be doing? Yes again. Jan 6, 2010    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Security the Most Important Standard, Utilities Say Utility execs participating in the Pacific Crest Mosaic Smart Grid survey rated cyber security as the most important standard for Smart Grid implementation. See what other standards took top spots. Dec 22, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

The Smart Grid Security Confidence Game What security expert Andy Bochman wants to know is why utilities aren't telling their stories when it comes to safeguards against hackers and other potential Smart Grid security risks. Find out why he's concerned about eroding confidence - and why he thinks utility execs should be too. Dec 8, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smarter Grid … Struggling SCADA? Looking back at the exploits of a hacker at a hospital in Texas has security expert Jack Danahy thinking of the SCADA security challenges associated with the new Smart Grid environment in some different and more urgent ways. Dec 2, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   5 Active Comment(s)

Canadian Utilities Nervous About U.S. Smart Grid Security Proposals Canadian utilities are getting nervous about what they see as probable unilateral action by the U.S. to protect the electric grid in the event of cyber-attacks. Nov 23, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Why Cyber Risks to the Grid Are – and Are Not – MAD Smart Grid security expert Andy Bochman tries to bring a balanced perspective to some of the alarmist outcry we're hearing about cyber attacks against the grid. Nov 19, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Verizon Business Targets Smart Grid Security Consulting Verizon Business has added security consulting to its portfolio of security services to help utilities working with Smart Grid technologies meet infrastructure protection standards. Nov 18, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

Checklist for a Safe and Sane Smart Grid: Security, Standards and the Right Equipment Utilities are asking consumers to take advantage of the cost-cutting potential and environmental benefits of new Smart Grid technologies. But as Jim Alfred of Certicom Corp. points out, creating the world’s largest distributed command and control system has its risks. Nov 17, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   4 Active Comment(s)

Stimulus Afterthoughts: Smart Meters, Rough Yardsticks The federal government's stimulus grants fueled a very powerful and creative technical engine within the energy industry. But Smart Grid security expert Jack Danahy warns that speeding too fast down this unfamiliar road could be a big mistake. Find out why. Nov 10, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

That Smart Grid Data Surge We Mentioned Earlier? You Can’t Ignore It When security expert Jack Danahy raised the alarm about the coming Smart Grid data surge a few weeks back, he got folks’ attention. He also got some objections to the conclusions he’d drawn – so he decided to dig deeper. Now he’s back with even more details on the coming surge, and they're pretty convincing. Nov 3, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   6 Active Comment(s)

Regulators Want More Authority Over Grid Security Regulators from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE, and the North American Electric Reliability Corp. told a House panel this week that they do not now have the authority to move quickly against threats to the electric grid, and offered support for legislation that could correct the deficiency. Oct 29, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Australian Grid Threatened by Computer Virus A computer virus at Integral Energy in Australia threatened to take down some of its vital control room operator displays. Alex Zheng provides a look at some fundamental errors that could have created even bigger problems. Oct 20, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Why Smart Grid Security Is About So Much More Than Smart Grid Security Smart Grid security expert Andy Bochman explains how a futurist rekindled his passion for renewable technologies - and got him thinking about the tremendous amount of work that has to happen in the next 5 to 10 years to get the grid ready for prime time. Oct 20, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Smart Grid Security: Questions to Ask Before You Invest in a Software Solution How much has your organization thought about the software side of the Smart Grid integration – and more to the point – a strategy to secure its use? Jack Danahy details questions you should be asking to feel secure during the adoption of new Smart Grid technologies. Oct 14, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Grid Security and CSOs: A Wake-Up Call When it comes to Smart Grid security standards, so much is in flux right now that Andy Bochman cautions doing too much might be as bad as doing too little. But that doesn't mean enterprise security execs shouldn't be getting their heads tuned to the challenges ahead and thinking through some scenarios. Oct 8, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   1 Active Comment(s)

Smart Grid Stimulus: Investment Grant Phase 3 Canceled. Bumpy Ride Ahead? With DOE canceling Phase 3 of the Smart Grid stimulus investment grant program and Phase 2 uncertain at this stage, our security experts are worried. Can fast-tracked applications adequately address the security requirements mandated by DOE? Oct 7, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion

Smart Security for a Smart Grid: Strategies for Safety A new and more complex grid means an exponential increase in security risks. In this final part of a 2-part series, Alex Zheng outlines a variety of approaches to address the potential dangers. Oct 6, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   2 Active Comment(s)

The Coming Smart Grid Data Surge Utilities deploying smart meters are about to be deluged with more data than ever before. How will they handle the coming tidal wave of information? Oct 5, 2009    Read the Full Story   Join the Discussion   8 Active Comment(s)

SMART GRID NEWS TALK BACK BUZZ Is it feasible for US to realize DG in home? Hello Peter Asmus, I am Chengrui Cai who is a PhD graduate student with major in Power and Energy System. Now my research lies in SmartGrid. As far as I know, one of the important goal of the SmartGrid is to bring distributed generation to homes in US, which aims to install solar panel and small wind turbine in homes. However, ... Talk Back right now to Chengrui Cai