Scott Johnson Authors POWER Magazine Article on Cybersecurity Developments for U.S. Energy Systems
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POWER Magazine has published the article, “Avoiding an ‘American Nightmare’—Cybersecurity Initiatives in the Power Sector” written by Akin Gump senior counsel Scott Johnson. The article discusses recent developments involving cybersecurity measures for energy systems in the United States.
Among the topics discussed, Johnson notes the severity of cybersecurity attacks on the U.S. energy system and recounts recent measures taken by the government to address these issues, including:
- Former President Trump’s Executive Order 13920, which “sought to limit the use of certain foreign-sourced electric equipment on the bulk-power system.”
- The U.S. Department of Energy’s Ensuring the Continued Security of the United States Critical Electric Infrastructure, which sought “input on developing a long-term strategy that includes technical assistance needs, supply chain risk management, procurement best practices, and risk mitigation criteria,” as well as on potential future prohibition authority.
- President Biden’s Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems memo that established a “voluntary Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative to improve critical infrastructure cybersecurity through more deployment of technologies for threat visibility, indications, detection, and warnings, as well as response capabilities for cybersecurity in essential control systems and operational networks.”
Johnson concludes to note that there is likely further regulation to come before any mandates take effect, but urges U.S. generators to continue do their due diligence by “evaluating and enhancing supply chain diligence and contracting processes; continually assessing and working to understand and mitigate cybersecurity risks; planning for and practicing responses to potential incidents; sharing information with peer firms; and engaging with relevant agencies and the administration as this regulatory landscape evolves. “
To read the full article, click here.
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