Energy Cybersecurity: Strategic Imperative for 2026

Why is cybersecurity including NIS2 essential to support the secure energy transition in Europe? As the industry accelerates the energy transition cyber threats are evolving just as quickly - a single attack could disrupt supply, compromise data, and damage trust. That’s why the European Union introduced the NIS2 Directive and aligned standards like IEC 62443, setting clear obligations for risk management, incident reporting, and compliance. At GreenPowerMonitor, a DNV company, we take this responsibility seriously. Our tiered security model offers five levels of protection, from basic firewalls to full redundancy and resilience. Depending on the size, complexity, and criticality of a customer network, different levels of protection can be implemented. Read the article by Álvaro Moreno Gómez to learn more about: ▪️Some of the main cybersecurity challenges facing companies in the renewable energy sector in Europe. ▪️Our collaboration with DNV Cyber to audit systems, close compliance gaps, and strengthen resilience. ▪️Our ways of working which includes secure network design, patch management, intrusion detection, access control, and ongoing staff training - all aligned with NIS2. By combining regulatory alignment with proactive defense, we help renewable energy companies stay secure, compliant, and future‑ready. Read the article to find out more about cybersecurity compliance in Europe’s renewable energy sector including NIS2: https://dnv.social/7cf

As hydrogen scales up, it faces unique cyber risks, from complex partnerships to fully digital operations. The good news? With EU's NIS2 Directive, the sector can build resilience from day one. ✅ Embed security in new projects ✅ Strengthen supply chain defenses ✅ Align IT + OT teams ✅ Be ready to report incidents in 24h Hydrogen has the chance to be more secure than legacy energy systems, if we act now. 👉 Read the full article by Tobias Nitzsche, Global Cyber Security Lead, ABB Energy Industries here: https://lnkd.in/g5fZWWwn 👉Learn more: go.abb/nis2 #ABBenergyIndustries

The energy and renewables sector is becoming increasingly connected. Systems that were once air-gapped are now connected to IT networks, cloud platforms, and third-party services for monitoring and remote operations, improving efficiency but expanding the cyber attack surface and increasing compliance complexity. In our upcoming webinar with Arcanum Cyber Security, we’ll explore how organizations can address these challenges and make a stronger case for cybersecurity investment. We’ll cover: ✅ Why the energy sector is an increasing target for cyber threats ✅ How secure remote access can support both operations and security ✅ How frameworks like CAF and ISA/IEC 62443 help improve risk posture and demonstrate compliance ✅ How to build a compelling case for cybersecurity investment Join us to hear practical insights on securing modern IT/OT environments in energy and renewables: https://hubs.la/Q045PTWT0 Will Burnett #Energy #Renewables #OTSecurity #CriticalInfrastructure #SecureRemoteAccess

🚨 The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) has unveiled its first five-year strategic plan targeting the hardening of energy infrastructure with a cyber resilience boost. 📊 The plan highlights a three-pronged approach: • Increasing defensive capabilities across over 90% of the U.S. electric grid assets • Reducing cyber incident response times from an average 21 days to under 12 hours • Enhancing collaboration with more than 150 industry and government partners to share threat intelligence in near real-time 🔍 This strategy directly addresses risks posed by sophisticated APT groups targeting critical infrastructure via vulnerabilities in OT environments. By focusing on proactive detection, rapid response, and resilient recovery, CESER aims to mitigate impacts from attacks that have historically cost the energy sector upwards of $50 million per incident and caused up to 70% downtime in affected plants. 💭 With increasing nation-state activity and ransomware assaults on utilities growing by 58% over the last two years, CESER’s comprehensive plan sets a new standard for cybersecurity readiness essential for national energy security. The data speaks for itself—strengthened public-private partnerships and rapid incident management are non-negotiable for safeguarding critical assets. #ThreatIntelligence #CriticalInfrastructure #CyberResilience #EnergySecurity #IncidentResponse #APT #IndustrialCybersecurity #OTSecurity #PublicPrivatePartnerships #CISO source: https://lnkd.in/gcJNpmjY

Did you know about NISTIR 7628? Most people working in energy talk about cybersecurity. Few know the standard that was specifically built to protect the smart grid from the ground up. NISTIR 7628, officially titled "Guidelines for Smart Grid Cyber Security," is a three-volume report published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It was developed by the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel-Cyber Security Working Group (SGIP-CSWG), a public-private partnership that by 2012 included more than 780 institutions from 22 stakeholder groups. What makes it unique: it defines 22 logical interface categories and over 180 high-level security requirements derived from NIST SP 800-53, NERC CIP, and the DHS Catalog, all adapted specifically for smart grid environments. The requirements are organized into three categories: compliance, risk and governance requirements at the organizational level; common technical requirements across all interface categories; and unique technical requirements for specific interfaces. Volume 2 is entirely dedicated to privacy in the smart grid — addressing threats like personal behavior pattern learning and real-time remote surveillance through energy usage data. A practical example: when a utility is deploying Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), NISTIR 7628 helps map each subsystem to logical interface categories and assign the corresponding security requirements. It even includes a companion User's Guide with 8 major cybersecurity management activities based on the DOE's Risk Management Process. If you work in energy cybersecurity and haven't explored this standard, it should be your first stop. #SmartGridSecurity #CybersecurityStandards #EnergyInfrastructure

Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure requires a different approach — especially in air-gapped environments. Join Emerson's Nicholas Janouskovec alongside experts from OPSWAT as they discuss how power generation and water operators can modernize patch management while maintaining operational continuity at the upcoming IIoT World Energy Day 2026 event. Session: "Mind the Air Gap: How Emerson and OPSWAT Solve Critical Infrastructure Patching" Air-gapped environments in power generation and water facilities cannot afford patching delays, unmanaged update pathways, or exposure to modern cyber threats. Yet maintaining security without disrupting operations remains a major challenge. Join cybersecurity experts from OPSWAT and Emerson as they explore how managed patching for air-gapped critical systems strengthens resilience while preserving operational continuity. Energy operators will learn how to modernize their cybersecurity strategy without compromising safety, uptime, or compliance. 🔒 Register today: http://emr.as/mafU50YquKv

Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure requires a different approach — especially in air-gapped environments. Join Emerson's Nicholas Janouskovec alongside experts from OPSWAT as they discuss how power generation and water operators can modernize patch management while maintaining operational continuity at the upcoming IIoT World Energy Day 2026 event. Session: "Mind the Air Gap: How Emerson and OPSWAT Solve Critical Infrastructure Patching" Air-gapped environments in power generation and water facilities cannot afford patching delays, unmanaged update pathways, or exposure to modern cyber threats. Yet maintaining security without disrupting operations remains a major challenge. Join cybersecurity experts from OPSWAT and Emerson as they explore how managed patching for air-gapped critical systems strengthens resilience while preserving operational continuity. Energy operators will learn how to modernize their cybersecurity strategy without compromising safety, uptime, or compliance. 🔒 Register today: http://emr.as/mafU50YquKv

We had some great conversations at KEY - The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini with utilities, technology providers, and energy leaders. One thing became clear: 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. We showcased how #SentryOT helps secure operational technology (OT) as energy infrastructure becomes more digital and interconnected. With #NIS2 compliance approaching and #OT cybersecurity expertise still scarce across the sector, we demonstrated how 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗢𝗧 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘃𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗢, 𝗦𝗢𝗖-𝗮𝘀-𝗮-𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲. 👉 Read the full recap: https://lnkd.in/dZVcG4UJ

Your SCADA was built a decade ago. The energy world didn't wait. SCADA modernization isn't just a technical upgrade, it's a strategic decision that determines your ability to perform, comply, and grow in a sector undergoing radical transformation. Today, renewable asset operators face unprecedented pressure: grids are growing more complex, cybersecurity standards are tightening, and investors demand full operational transparency. Those who modernize now gain a competitive edge. Those who wait are quietly accumulating invisible risk. 👇 Reasons to modernize your SCADA in 2026. you can learn more by reading this guide https://lnkd.in/eRDF53fY #SCADA #RenewableEnergy #Ganex #ITOTIntegration #Cybersecurity #GridModernization #CleanEnergy #ganex #ganexsolutions

SCADA modernization isn’t just technical, it’s strategic. It directly impacts reliability, compliance, and operational visibility. Done right, it becomes a competitive advantage. That’s the mindset we bring at Ganex