he electric power system is under near-constant attack by cybercriminals. Over the last several years, cyberattacks have resulted in the disablement of remote controls for wind farms and data breaches involving utility customers’ personal and financial information. The number of hacking attempts targeted at the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) number in the millions per day. According to Verizon’s 2023 Data Breach Investigations report, nearly three-quarters of attacks involve a human element in the form of error, stolen security credentials, and social engineering.
While some cyberattacks go unreported, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports there is an abundance of evidence that attacks have been on a dramatic upswing since 2018. The IEA believes that the increasing number of cyberattacks is due to a combination of factors, including the increased use of digital technologies to manage grids and power plants and the accelerating influx of distributed energy resources (DER) that provide power system entry points that criminals can exploit.
Why Workforce Development Matters
EPRI has also conducted extensive research and collaborated with members and industry stakeholders on identifying cyber vulnerabilities and developing tools to address them. This has included a broad range of activities, including a series of educational and training videos on topics such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in electric sector cyber security as well as videos detailing cyber security first principles. EPRI also conducted surveys and research to identify cyber security knowledge gaps training should address.
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Bridging the Gap