Industry-Driven Roadmap Helps Energy Sector Protect Control Systems
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Today, representatives from the U.S. energy sector released a groundbreaking strategy for improving the security of control systems in the energy sector. The Roadmap to Secure Control Systems in the Energy Sector presents a vision for protecting all energy control systems from intentional cyber assault within ten years. It also outlines a strategic framework for improving cyber security in the energy sector by organizing current efforts and guiding future investments within government and industry.
 The Roadmap was developed through an unprecedented collaborative process that was led by energy asset owners and operators and funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electric Delivery and Energy Reliability in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate and the Energy Infrastructure Protection Division of Natural Resources Canada.
Control systems encompass vast networks of interconnected electronic devices that are essential for monitoring and controlling the production and distribution of electricity, oil, and natural gas. However, these cyber systems must communicate with thousands of nodes and information systems, thus exposing energy systems to potential harm from cyber attacks or accidents.
The Roadmap includes a guiding vision, key trends and challenges, goals, milestones, and activities, organized over a 10-year time frame. It provides a strategic framework for organizing current and future activities to meet the following goals: 1) Measure and Assess Security Posture; 2) Develop and Integrate Protective Measures; 3) Detect Intrusion and Implement Response Strategies; and 4) Sustain Security Improvements. The Roadmap considered the needs of energy asset owners and operators for legacy systems, security tools and practices, strategic risks, and control system architecture.
The Roadmap was guided by a 17-member Roadmap Steering Group which included representatives from:
Learn more about the Roadmap.
For more information, please contact Katie Jereza or Lindsay Kishter at 410-290-0370.
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