UTILITY NETWORKS STILL VULNERABLE

Utilities are Making Progress on Smart Grid Cyber Security, but 2012 will Continue to be a Year of Major Challenges
November 8, 2011 (Pike Research)

"…[Pike Research’s white paper, Utility Cyber Security] finds that utilities’ cyber security challenges are nowhere close to being resolved, and the industry will continue to face a number of serious hurdles in the coming years…"

[Bob Lockhart, senior analyst, Pike Research:] “Utility cyber security is in a state of near chaos…After years of vendors selling point solutions, utilities investing in compliance minimums rather than full security, and attackers having nearly free rein, the attackers clearly have the upper hand. Many attacks simply cannot be defended. That said, Pike Research has observed a dawning awareness by utilities during the past 18 months of the importance of securing smart grids with architecturally sound solutions. There is hope.”

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"…[T]he utility cyber security market will be characterized by a frantic race to gain the upper hand against the attackers, while at the same time strong competitors attempt to outdo each other…Pike Research [identifies the five most promising smart grid cyber security technologies and key trends]…

"…[C]yber security investments will be shaped by regional deployments…Industrial control systems, not smart meters, will be the primary cyber security focus…Security ‘by obscurity’ will no longer be acceptable…[T]he lack of security standards will hinder action…[O]lder devices will continue to pose challenges…System implementation will be more important than component security…"