Intel and McAfee have announced an agreement to better protect the energy utility ecosystem from cyber attacks.
The duo has come up with a blueprint for a comprehensive solution, creating layers of security to shield generation, transmission and distribution networks.
“The complexity and diversity of the electrical power delivery systems make protecting them from cyber attacks very difficult. Energy provider’s infrastructure comprises diverse set of networks that cannot be effectively secured by simply adding technologies designed for typical enterprise IT environments,’’ Mr Eric Knapp, critical infrastructure expert at McAfee, said here in a statement.
Many of the power grids ageing assets predate the internet revolution and are particularly vulnerable from attacks. Substations, known as one of the most vulnerable parts of the smart grid, are particularly at risk from attacks, he said.