Cybersecurity for critical infrastructure

Intel’s intelligent systems technology is helping to bring connected, managed, and secure technology to a wide range of industries, but certainly energy is one of the most exciting.  My name is Rob Chavez, and I’m a platform solutions architect in Intel’s Intelligent Systems Group. I’m excited to lend my voice to Grid Insights and to explore the many challenges and opportunities ahead as we embark on the formidable task of modernizing and securing today’s electrical grid through intelligent systems. Just as in other industries, distributed intelligence and processing requires an IP-based network, making cybersecurity a very important issue for utilities to address. It’s not widely known that robust security solutions are available right now to protect critical energy systems and infrastructure. We expect to see this area expand significantly in the near future.

I’d like to introduce this short video, shot recently at the Industrial Control Systems Joint Working Group (ICSJWG) 2012 Spring Conference, which emulates a remotely managed electrical substation environment and demonstrates how an operator can use McAfee’s cybersecurity solutions to safeguard their operations. An attacker who achieves remote access to critical infrastructure can cause all sorts of havoc, so properly implementing multiple layers of security is vital for secure and reliable operation of the electrical grid. With complete situational awareness, application whitelisting, regulatory compliances, and secure remote remediation, the control room staff will have the tools they need to protect the grid. Does your utility have this level of security?