In doing some research into what trends might shape Energy Management in 2019 (by the way, if you have insights into what those trends might be, don't forget to submit your thoughts to Energy Central's Call for Abstracts - 2019 Utility Industry Insights), I came across an assessment about how cybersecurity will be one of the year's most important topics.

Smart Energy writes:

As smart energy initiatives rollout in both public and private sectors in the years ahead, cybersecurity will remain one of the highest priorities for utilities and the smart energy market. Recent attacks at national levels in both the United States and Europe have driven home the urgency and importance of critical infrastructure and communications protection. The growing familiarity has increasingly brought both grid management and cybersecurity awareness and conversations to management levels in all industries. Explained Ilan Barda, CEO of global cybersecurity experts Radiflow. “More and more utilities providers and critical infrastructure operators understand the cyber-risks that are introduced as part of their digital transformation projects and efforts. “Governments have certainly recognised these risks and are pushing regulations and mandates, such as NERP CIP and the EU NIS Directives. As cybersecurity is a new area for the operations teams, there is still a gap in the availability of clear and simple implementation guidelines for key aspects, such as identity management, network segregation, vulnerability monitoring and more.” Barda continued, “Our recommendation is to always start with a risk assessment process that will map your assets and their vulnerabilities and analyse the impact of each on your industrial processes. This will provide you with important insights for defining and implementing best practices moving forward.”

While data privacy and cybersecurity concerns are at the tip of our tongues and across headlines these days thanks to concerns about people stealing and using our private information, it begs the question of what ways is cybersecurity integral to professionals and organizations in energy management.

Does the focus on cybersecurity in the public consciousness aid energy management strategies? Conversely, in what ways are persistent cybersecurity threats dampening the potential of energy management practices with customers?

I think one of the key questions and tasks here is how do you assuage customer fears of real or perceived risks, while obviously mitigating any of the risks that are actually real.

Looking for input from energy management professionals across Energy Central!