11.06201712/13/2017
Cybersecurity and the power grid

Cybersecurity and the power grid

By In clean energy, Cybersecurity, energy, energy policy, energy solutions, infrastructure, Leadership, Monthly Events, Networking, Policy, power outages, Smart Grid, Utilities, Weather-related outagesTags , , , , , , , , , , ,

In the face of the mounting threats of cyberattacks and the vulnerable, interdependent electric grid systems, governments, utilities, businesses, and people need to come together and do what is necessary to be prepared. No one can afford to be complacent. This was the message at the Energy Infrastructure and Cybersecurity forum held by Leaders in Energy at Make Offices in Arlington, VA (Clarendon) on June 1, 2017.

29.05201712/13/2017
Are you prepared if the lights go out in your area?

Are you prepared if the lights go out in your area?

By In Cybersecurity, energy, Monthly Events, Networking, UtilitiesTags , , , , , , , ,

I just finished reading the cyber-techno book thriller, Blackout, by Marc Elsberg, on the theme of a cyberattack in Europe and the United States leading to a prolonged power outage. It made me wonder whether I was really prepared for an emergency of this kind. It was bad enough experiencing the Derecho storm in the summer of 2012 where my neighborhood in Virginia experienced a power outage in the sweltering heat for 5 days!

After that experience, I became more interested in the topic of community microgrids and back-up power systems to help shield one in the event of a power outage. As a result of reading Marc’s book, I have also been doing research on the best ways to prepare for a power emergency, whether caused by natural or more nefarious reasons such a cyberattack.