In December 2015, a cyber attack shut down a large section of the Ukrainian power grid – an incident that the Department of Energy identified in the 2017 installment of the Quadrennial Energy Review as an ‘indicator of what is possible.’
(Learn More about the Prykarpattyaoblenergo Power Plant Cyber Attack, courtesy of NATO)
Raytheon and Utilidata have today announced they have formed a strategic alliance to help power utilities proactively detect, defend against and respond to cyber threats.
The effort will combine Utilidata’s experience in the use of real-time data from the electrical grid to detect and respond to cyber attacks and Raytheon’s expertise in proactive cyber threat hunting, automation and managed security services to provide world-class cybersecurity, analytics and other innovative technologies.
“With this alliance, Raytheon will expand our presence in the critical infrastructure market by delivering next-generation, defense-grade cybersecurity capabilities to power utilities,” said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services business.
(Cybersecurity is not a waiting game. The only way to find the most sophisticated, damaging cyber threats attacking an organization’s network is to proactively “hunt” for them. Courtesy of Raytheon and YouTube)
Power utility companies have invested heavily in making the power distribution system smarter, more efficient and more connected since the early 2000s. Such innovations are pillars of the energy economy, but they can make the grid vulnerable to cyber attacks.
The integrated services offered by Utilidata and Raytheon, including cyber monitoring, post-attack forensics analysis, and both short and long-term strategic capabilities will limit risks and enhance cybersecurity to prevent future attacks.
“Power utilities face unique challenges that make planning and response to cyber attacks more difficult,” said Scott DePasquale, chairman and CEO of Utilidata.
“With more and more devices and systems connected to the internet, and all of them needing electrical power, these challenges are increasing exponentially. This new alliance will help define the future of cybersecurity in the power utilities sector.”
(Jan 22, 2015 – Hear from Scott DePasquale, chairman and CEO of Utilidata, about how the Providence-based software company is helping National Grid and other utilities move to a “smart grid”, courtesy of Utilidata, WPRI and YouTube)
Utilidata, is a global software company that works with electric utilities to enhance energy efficiency and grid security.
The company’s patented technology captures real-time data from the grid, giving utilities information needed to save energy, mitigate issues caused by distributed energy resources and better detect grid anomalies.
