63% of utility execs fear grid disruption from cyber attacks

Around 63% of utility executives believe their country faces at least a moderate risk of electricity supply interruption from a cyber attack on electric distribution grids in the next five years.

The figure is based on global consulting and professional services company Accenture’s new report Outsmarting Grid Security Threats. The company surveyed more than 100 utilities executives from over 20 countries for the report that reveals interruptions to the power supply from cyber attacks as the most serious concern, cited by 57% of respondents. The respondents were equally worried about the physical threat to the distribution grid with 53% of executives citing employee and/or customer safety, and 43% of executives citing the destruction of physical assets as their biggest concerns.

“As highly sophisticated, weaponised malware is being developed, a greater risk to distribution businesses arises from cybercriminals and others who would use it for malicious purposes,” said Stephanie Jamison, managing director, Accenture Transmission and Distribution.

“Attacks on industrial control systems could disrupt grid reliability and the safety and wellbeing of employees and the public. Not getting it right could be a brand killer, as well as a real threat for a country and the community.”

While the increased connectivity of industrial control systems enabled by the smart grid will drive significant benefits in the form of safety, productivity, improved quality of service and operational efficiency, 88% agreed that cybersecurity is a major concern in smart grid deployment. Distribution utilities are also increasingly exposed by the growth of connected Internet of Things (IoT) domestic devices, such as connected home hubs and smart appliances. These bring a new risk to distribution companies, which is hard to quantify, with 77% of utilities executives suggesting IoT as a potential threat to cybersecurity.

In Asia Pacific and Europe, cybercriminals are seen as the biggest risk for distribution businesses by almost a third of respondents. However, in North America, attacks by governments are considered a bigger risk than in regions worldwide (32%).

“Deployment of the smart grid could open new attack vectors if cybersecurity is not a core component of the design,” added Jamison. “However, the smart grid can also bring sophisticated protection to assets that were previously vulnerable through improved situational awareness and control of the grid.”

Utilities must improve cybersecurity capabilities and develop a resilient delivery system. A significant number of distribution utilities have much to do in developing a robust cyber response capability with more than four in 10 respondents claiming cybersecurity risks were not, or were only partially, integrated into their broader risk management processes.

In addition, the increasing convergence of physical and cyber threats requires the development of capabilities that go well beyond simple security-related national compliance requirements. Utilities must invest in resilience of their smart grid as well as effective response and recovery capabilities.

Proper protection is challenging due to the complexity of distribution electric grids and increasingly sophisticated, well-funded attackers, and many distribution utilities are still underprotected and underprepared. Only 6% felt extremely well prepared and 48% well prepared when it came to restoring normal grid operations following a cyber attack.

“Cybersecurity must become a core competency in the industry by protecting the entire value chain and the extended ecosystem end to end. Utilities, already well versed in reliable power delivery and power restoration, need an agile and swift capability that creates and leverages situational awareness, and that can quickly react and intervene to protect the grid,” said Jim Guinn, managing director, who leads Accenture’s security practice for resources industries. “Developing this new capability will require ongoing innovation, a practical approach to scaling and collaboration with partners to drive the most value.”

While there is no single path forward, there are some moves any distribution business should consider to strengthen resilience and response to cyber attack, such as: integrate resilience into asset and process design, including cyber and physical security; share intelligence and information as a critical activity that could help create situational awareness of the latest threat landscape and how to prepare accordingly; and develop security and emergency management governance models.