The productivity and efficiency of our energy production have increased because of the growing availability of big data, analytics, and our reliance on cyberspace, but this has also made us more susceptible to cyberattacks than before. But what precisely is cybersecurity, and how do digital wind farms connect to it?
The "means by which individuals and organisations decrease the risk of a cyber-attack" is known as cybersecurity. This can be done by taking steps to prevent theft and damage to the equipment we all use on a daily basis, such as computers, smartphones, and tablets, as well as the services we use both online and at work. Vast confidential data that is stored on these devices and in cyberspace can also be protected from unauthorised access thanks to cybersecurity. However, cybersecurity is not just about firewalls and protocols; it also includes the best practices that employees should adhere to in order to reduce the danger of an attack.
Over the past ten years, offshore wind generation has increased significantly on a national and international level. As a result of this record-breaking growth, wind farms are becoming an increasingly important part of the infrastructure needed to keep the lights on. Due to this reliance, wind farms are becoming an increasingly appealing target for cyberattacks and hackers, whether they are acting for political or illegal reasons.
So why should we care? Along with affordability and environmental impact, the energy trilemma includes the security of the supply of electricity. A cyber-attack might cause financial, energy output, and reputational damages if it attacks a wind farm. Additionally, due to the unnecessary wear and tear encountered, some attacks may even physically harm the turbines. Not only could these cyberattacks affect individual wind farms, hackers shutting down wind production could potentially result in disrupting or stopping our electricity supply.
Few ways to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities are; an integrated approach to security, strategic threat intelligence, and a whole-of-industry approach to converged threats.
However, despite the growing relevance of cybersecurity within the industry, there is still a sizable knowledge and understanding gap about how to most effectively deploy these security measures. Contributing reasons include a historical lack of teamwork, knowledge exchange, and a paucity of vital trained personnel. Additionally, many owner/operators are unsure about how to integrate cybersecurity practises into their wind farm operations because present restrictions only apply in a narrow number of circumstances.
Want to know more? Do not miss the opportunity to join the Windpower Data and Digital Innovation Forum where we will be discussing Digital Windfarm Threat: How to Address Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities?.
To register or learn more about the Forum please check here: https://bit.ly/3TJzA5b
For more information and group participation, contact us: [email protected]
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