Electric grid experts are warning that utilities will be more vulnerable to cyberattacks unless federal regulators permit a cloud-based defense against hackers.
Companies that run cyber defense operations for utilities are “moving at the speed of light” toward internet-based cloud technology, said Chris Holmquest, a security adviser for SERC, the grid reliability coordinator for 16 southeastern and central states, during a recent webinar by a group of utility security experts.
The result is a true Catch-22. The strongest cyber defense programs are now being created to move in the cloud and be stored in public data centers. The greater power and flexibility of cloud-based technology, compared to utilities’ in-house defenses, creates a growing advantage for companies that make use of the technology.
State-backed attackers employing cloud-based artificial intelligence weapons could gain a growing edge against utilities unless the power companies can also shift to cloud-based defenses, experts warn.
