WGC 2018: Energy sector accused of sleepwalking on cybersecurity
Security experts say industry is leaving the door open for hackers targeting mission-critical infrastructure
Energy firms are overlooking serious cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure due to cost-cutting measures and lax standards, according to industry experts. Speaking at World Gas Conference 2018, David Blanco, SCADA security director at software firm Autosol, said cybersecurity compliance is so poor that he expected it could take "an event where lives are lost for any regulation to be introduced" and adopted, to spur the industry into action. While not caused directly by a cyber attack, he pointed to the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion of 2010 as an example of such an event. "Safety regulations are followed like a religion, but cybersecurity standards are voluntary and just aren'
Also in this section
26 April 2024
While the US has been breaking records for its premium grade crude, there are doubts over whether you can have too much of a good thing
26 April 2024
Slowing demand growth and capacity expansions will squeeze refiners in coming years
25 April 2024
Some companies with assets in Israel have turned towards Egypt as tensions escalate, but others are holding firm despite rising tensions
24 April 2024
But even planned exploration activity is unlikely to reverse declining output from mature fields