Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

The convergence of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) and smart building innovation within operational technology (OT) is helping to drive technological and environmental advances. However, it is also contributing to the emergence of significant security vulnerabilities and threats.

According to a report, 71% of energy industry professionals consider their organizations more vulnerable to OT cyber events than ever. These are private organizations, but the stakes are much higher for government-owned systems. Government-owned energy systems such as national grids, nuclear facilities, pipelines, and strategic reserves are foundational to national sovereignty and public welfare.

The energy sector stands as a critical pillar of our society. From the electricity powering our homes to the fuel driving our industries, reliable energy is essential. However, the very interconnectedness that makes the energy sector so vital also exposes it to significant vulnerabilities, particularly within its supply chain. The Interconnected Web of Energy The energy sector is a complex web of systems, stretching far beyond power plants and wind farms.

Xona, the leading provider of secure access solutions for critical infrastructure, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with Oregon Systems, a premier cybersecurity value added distributor specializing in Operational Technology (OT), Critical Infrastructure Security and providing High performance computing (HPC) solutions in the Middle East.

The energy sector has become a prime target for cyberattacks, with successful breaches posing severe risks to national security, economic stability, and public safety. Luckily, the industry is standing up and taking notice, with two-thirds of energy professionals (65%) now saying their leadership now sees cybersecurity as the greatest risk to their business.

America's critical infrastructure faces an unprecedented threat, and it's already installed in hundreds of locations across the nation. Recent investigations confirm that Chinese-manufactured power transformers—essential components of our electrical grid—have been discovered with hidden capabilities allowing remote shutdown from overseas. In summer 2019, federal authorities seized a massive 500,000-pound Chinese transformer at the Port of Houston.

The UK’s ambition to become a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) marks a transformative era. However, the foundation of this progress—the energy sector—has emerged as a prime target for cybercriminals. While AI-driven technologies offer greater efficiency and resilience, they also heighten the sector’s vulnerability to cyberattacks. To sustain the nation’s AI advancements, ensuring the security of the energy infrastructure must be a critical priority.

Reliable energy is the backbone of any modern society. It powers our homes, industries, and economies. But what happens when this essential infrastructure becomes a target for cyberattacks? In Europe, the energy sector is facing an escalating threat landscape, with potentially dire consequences.

Industrial facilities increasingly rely on interconnected systems to improve operations. As they implement these technologies into their legacy environments, they create new cybersecurity risks within previously isolated Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) by connecting them to public internet-facing applications.