Energy firms ‘at risk’ from cyber attacks

Cyber terrorism poses a growing threat to energy companies and they must make sure their security systems are robust, the government has warned.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Bis)

published Cyber Security Guidance for Business last week, saying that the energy sector “would be particularly at risk” from potential cyber attacks.

A spokesman for Bis said the energy sector was one of the key areas they were warning because “it is such big business”. The large amounts of personal data and intelligence on their systems make them attractive targets for cyber terrorists.

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure said it was working with major energy companies and the Department of Energy and Climate Change to provide protective security advice. That partnership has led to the creation of a security “node” for utilities, which lets workers link securely to networks from remote devices.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 14th September 2012.

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