Panel Session: Integrating Security Concepts in an Evolving Electricity Ecosystem (slides)

IEEE and NERC have jointly sponsored a technical report that was published in late 2022 focusing on the concept of security integration - integrating cyber and physical security concepts into conventional grid planning, design, operations, and restoration activities. This panel will explore the concept laid out in the IEEE-NERC technical report and will also include industry experts in areas related to security integration. Topics that will be covered include:
- Planning Integration: How the bulk power system can be planned and built in a way that increases it cyber-resilience and minimizes the number of critical elements. This includes novel ways in which grid planners can study the possible reliability impacts of a cyber compromise in the OT space.
- Design Integration: How future engineering designs can better integrate cybersecurity concepts, how OT and IT security professionals can work more closely to ensure a strong cyber posture during the design phase of new projects.
- Operations Integration: How grid operators and operations engineers can ensure a strong cyber posture to the possibility of a cyber attack. This includes leveraging the various cybersecurity frameworks and standards in effect and ensuring that engineering operating procedures and practices are fully integrating the concepts of security as well.
- Emerging Technologies: How emerging technologies may affect the overall electricity sector's security posture, particularly with the advent of cloud technology, grid edge devices, the Internet of Things, distributed energy resources, DER aggregators, electric vehicles, and more.
This panel will present some novel work done in these areas as well as lay out strong industry recommendations for future work as well as ways in which utilities can enhance their security integration internally.