Electric utilities are particularly vulnerable to security breaches
Increasing integration of operations technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems brings convenience, but it also opens the door to new security risks. The GDS team provides security guidance, planning, and implementation to maximize cybersecurity and physical security at your facilities.
Cyber and Physical Security expertise including:
Cyber and physical security program development and implementation
NERC CIP and NIST compliance evaluations
NERC, NIST, and other security program management
Configuration of systems impacted by NERC CIP standards
Cybersecurity incident response plan development & testing
Meet NERC CIP security standards
NERC CIP standards only apply to entities that are part of the bulk electric system, but complying with those standards is wise even for smaller utilities. The GDS team can review existing security protocols to determine whether they adequately protect IT and OT assets.
Protect customer and member data
Minimize the risk of exposing customers to fraud or identity theft. GDS can help train your team to avoid phishing scams, develop protocols to protect IT and OT systems, and stay compliant with cybersecurity best practices.
Develop a comprehensive approach to security that checks every box
Increasingly, IT security and OT security are one and the same. There are benefits to this approach, but the two systems are developed with different core functions in mind. An OT breach, such as operator credential theft, presents a variety of damaging physical and cybersecurity risks. The security experts at GDS can help you develop a plan to mitigate those risks and shore up security conflicts where OT and IT systems overlap.
