INL, Idaho Falls Power join forces to protect from cyber attacks
The Idaho National Lab and Idaho Falls Power have joined forces to test and analyze what would happen if there was a cyber attack on infrastructure.
Power is a major part of our life. We trust the light switch will turn on everyday.
Experts there’s a real threat of hackers taking down the power.
“It is not a question of if I am going to be attacked it is when,” said INLcritical infrastructure security advisor Rita Foster.
Local researchers at the INL work day in and day out to understand the impact of hackers.
“We understand those vulnerabilities very well, we understand how the hackers use the different pathways,” said Foster.
Right now, the INL is working to figure out the intent and motivation of hackers.
They do this by thinking like a hacker instead of a target to help them better protect against a cyber attack.
“We have the capability to understand when things go down how to bring systems back up how to mitigate it how try to ensure that cyber effect is going to be very minimal when their system comes back online,” said Foster.
One thing being done is including alerts and alarms for equipment operators to know when something out of the ordinary happens on their network.
Idaho Falls Power manager Jackie Flowers says there’s always a risk but thinks they are on the front end of the learning curve because of their work with INL.
“That’s really the key is have security and resilience on the front, forefront of any additional change just like we would safety. It’s always easier to think about it ahead of time and plan accordingly then to come in and retrofit after the fact,” said Flowers.
The focus for eastern Idaho is being able restore power in a timely manner.
“Even small public power systems like Idaho Falls Power are showing the regulators that we take this very seriously that we are paying attention we are trying to improve our best management practices and stay aware of the changing landscape all of the time,” said Flowers.
One of the reason Idaho Falls Power is such a great partner, is because like many in the utility industry their equipment wasn’t created prior to the introduction of the internet and wireless mobility.
