Could a Summer Heat Wave Impair Your Business’s Cybersecurity?

As the world continues to become increasingly digital, critical infrastructure such as power, transportation, and telecommunications will become more dependent on computers and the internet. As the power grid continues to expand, more of our lives are taking place online, and therefore, critical systems are more at risk. Perhaps most importantly, there is the potential for extreme weather events that can impact the critical infrastructure system.

The summer of 2021 will be one for the record books. If you live in a large city, you know that power outages are becoming a serious problem in some areas. And it is getting worse. With temperatures in the upper 30s Celsius, the July heatwave is among the worst ever for Europe. The problem is climate change, and the most recent heatwave in Europe has caused outages in many countries, such as Portugal. That is likely to become the new normal.

Businesses that are inadequately protected against cyberattacks could be at risk. In the past few years, a large number of blackout cyberattacks have occurred in the summer, and given the time of year, many of them go unreported, as few people have the time or inclination to worry about corporate security.

Blackout cyber attacks have become an increasing concern to those that run large institutions or companies. But how exactly do they work, and are they something to worry about? This article aims to describe and explain the threat of cyber attacks to the utility industry.

Why Do Heat Waves Cause Power Outages?

Power outages are a regular phenomenon in any part of the world. A power failure, or “brownout”, occurs when an electrical source such as a generator or battery is temporarily interrupted by a loss of generation or loss of voltage. A “blackout” occurs during a long-term power loss, causing loss of power to all or part of a large area, typically for more than a few minutes. Brownouts are caused by a sudden reduction in electricity supply. They usually occur when the transmission system is overloaded, and the power plants cannot keep up with the demand.

During sweltering temperatures, grid operators in many parts of the world experience a temporary reduction in power, such as a blackout, as they struggle to keep up with the increased power demands created by the volume of air conditioning units being used to keep homes cool.

Black Out Cyber Attacks

The utility industry is particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks, and attacks on the energy sector are rising. With the already increased strain on power grids during the summer, the risk of power outages due to cyber attacks is heightened.

Energy utilities are one of the most critical industries in the world. They provide power, gas, and water to millions of people and businesses around the country and the world. Because the systems that run these utilities are critical to daily life, cyberattacks are a high priority concern for government agencies and private industry alike. A Ponemon Institute report addresses the utilities industry’s vulnerability to cyber threats and provides solutions to protect the industry by developing more secure critical infrastructure.

The report reveals that the situation is becoming worse and poses financial, environmental, and infrastructural risks. One of the biggest threats to modern society is the risk of a cyber-attack on power plants, water treatment facilities, and other critical infrastructure, which would wipe out much of the electrical supply, and create widespread chaos unless it was immediately and successfully countered.

How can businesses protect themselves from this type of attack?

Protecting the Utility Industry

There are unique cybersecurity requirements for the industry. While data theft is a target, control systems and logic controllers that operate critical infrastructure are also vulnerable to attack. The attacks conducted against the industry are more sophisticated. Since critical infrastructure is necessary for everyday life, the industry is especially susceptible to cyber weapons that target utilities. The attackers might also be supported by nation-states who wish to damage physical assets.

Improving Readiness Against Growing Cyber Threats

Cyber threats are coming to the battleground with the speed of lightning, and cybersecurity professionals are struggling to keep up. For years, enterprises have focused on protecting the perimeter of their networks. In this approach, the objective is to defend the system from a single point of entry. However, in the world of cybersecurity, the perimeter is not always as secure as one would hope. In fact, many organizations have experienced breaches on their perimeter networks. That is because cybersecurity relies on the capabilities of the network’s defenders, which is not always the most secure point of entry. A basic framework for protecting against attacks is as follows:

● Risk: Raise awareness on the risk involved and reported around the world having a direct impact on the industry, such as the damage that could result from a successful attack.

● Readiness: Assess how organizations respond to such threats, self-assess their preparedness, and address any known gaps.

● Solutions: Develop frameworks regarding how organizations can boost their defense to be one step ahead of the threat.

When dealing with cyber threats, agility is mandatory. The more quickly you can detect and mitigate threats, the faster you can recover and move on. Companies that act proactively to protect themselves from threats are best positioned to prevent damage in the digital economy.

Business executives and decision-makers are often too busy to understand the potential risk of cyber threats or how to prevent them. Executives and decision-makers should be aware of the risks involved, and cyber threats will continue to grow and be more sophisticated before they can be mitigated. Cybercriminals are focused on stealing data and money and constantly developing new methods to steal identities and financial information.

At Advanced German Technology (AGT), we offer risk-based solutions to organizations for handling and monitoring threats. For our clients, we provide the entire range of cybersecurity services, with a clear focus on risk-based solutions. We provide a variety of services, which include threat monitoring, threat intelligence, incident response, and penetration testing. We provide these services to clients of all sizes, from major corporations to smaller organizations.

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.