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June 13, 2023 | Georg Thoma

Attack on the energy industry: 7 expert tips to protect your infrastructure from cyberattacks

By Georg Thoma, Chief Information Security Officer at meteocontrol

In a world where cybercrime and attacks on critical infrastructure are becoming increasingly common, it is imperative that companies in the energy sector protect their assets. Whether you're a large utility or a renewable energy operator, keeping your systems secure should be a top priority. In this article, learn how we at meteocontrol help companies protect their assets from cyber threats and the 7 steps you should follow to make your energy infrastructure more secure.

The energy sector is an attractive target for cyberattacks, according to the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) in a January 2023 report. But how can companies effectively protect their assets from cyber threats? At meteocontrol, we highlight solution approaches to ensure the security of energy plants and thus ensure safe, smooth operations.

The 7 most important expert tips for securing energy plants from cyber threats

There are basic security measures that always apply, regardless of the technology used. Here are the 7 crucial cyber security tips that you should follow as a plant operator:

  • Initial password: Don't forget to change your initial password during installation to ensure that only authorized users have access to the data.
  • Firewall: Use a firewall to block unwanted connections and attacks.
  • Password change: Renew your passwords regularly (e.g. once every six months).
  • Strong passwords: Use strong, unique passwords for all user accounts and update them regularly.
  • Software updates: Keep all software and operating systems used up to date to close security gaps.
  • Network monitoring: Monitor your networks for unusual activities and signs of possible attacks.
  • Employee training: Train your employees how to use secure passwords and protect against phishing attacks.
Georg Thoma © meteocontrol

meteocontrol helps customers with the topic "Cyber Security”

In addition to these basic tips, we offer further support to increase the IT security of their plants. For this purpose, we recommend the following approach to companies in order to avoid unnecessary risks:

  • Refrain from port forwarding for remote access on your router. Otherwise, you will make your data logger accessible to the public.
  • Close all ports on the router that are not needed.
  • Use a firewall to optimally protect the network of your PV system.
  • Reset the default passwords of the data loggers to make optimum use of the available protection options.
  • Use only secure VPN connections for remote access to prevent public availability.

How we help companies make their energy infrastructure more secure

We are happy to provide this service to our customers through the Connectivity Center and help service personnel set up a secure and nearly remote monitoring system.

At our company, we are constantly working to make our products even more secure. This includes regular reviews and updates to ensure that customers and partners are prepared for new threats. To date, there has been no successful cyberattack on our systems.

In addition, we are aware of threats and continuously implement countermeasures that take effect. Through penetration tests (pen tests), carried out by TÜV and others, we are constantly on the lookout for possible vulnerabilities and work to eliminate them.

Conclusion: Why companies in the energy sector need to improve their cyber security

With cyber threats on the rise and the growing importance of renewables to our energy supply, it's more critical than ever for companies in the energy sector to protect their systems and assets from cyberattacks. The 7 tips above are a solid starting point to strengthen the security of your energy infrastructure.

Looking ahead, advanced technologies and improved security protocols will play a critical role in making the energy sector as a whole more secure and resilient to cyber threats. By working with experts like us and continually adapting to new threats and challenges, companies in the energy sector can protect their assets while contributing to a sustainable and secure energy supply.

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