Understanding the Perils of our Power Grid Security

Our nation depends on electric power to support daily conveniences as well as critical functions like street lights, hospitals, and 911 phone calls. As the equipment to operate the bulk electric system becomes increasingly computerized and connected, we face an increasing risk of Cyber Security breach disabling or damaging the grid. Regulators have devised Critical Infrastructure Protection standards to enforce a minimum level of Cyber Security protection at utilities and other companies responsible for power generation and transmission. Threats evolve on a daily basis, while regulations take years to develop and roll-out. This presentation will ask the question, have the Cyber Security regulations gone far enough to protect reliability, or have they gone too far and shifted the focus from security to compliance