The energy sector is undergoing a rapid transformation: more renewable sources, electromobility, and the need to balance the grid in real time are pushing the boundaries of what is connected and remotely managed. Along with this, the importance of cybersecurity is growing—from data protection to the safe operation of critical infrastructure. A telling illustration is an experienced professional from the national cybersecurity center who bought a home generator just in case—it's said it's not a question of if, but when outages arrive.
The energy sector on the cusp of a major transformation
After years, the sector is experiencing dynamic changes: renewable sources are being integrated, business models are changing, and transmission and distribution systems operate differently. Electromobility can sharply increase consumption in an ordinary household, which shifts demand for energy storage and for better balancing between generation and consumption. These shifts are no longer a marginal topic, but the core of network operations.
For all this to work, operators need lots of real-time data and the ability to remotely control elements in different parts of the ecosystem. Whereas isolation used to be the most effective "protection", the grid can no longer afford it—the perimeter is expanding and a multitude of active devices is being added. Thus, a technical challenge is also becoming a security challenge.
Attackers are changing their motives, identity is the weakest link
What used to often end with a quick ransom in ransomware cases is, in critical infrastructure, shifting toward goals with a geopolitical dimension. State-sponsored groups prepare over the long term, monitor the environment, and seek to weaken the resilience of networks at the moment when it is advantageous. It's therefore not just about money, but about strategic influence.
Most attacks choose the path of least resistance—identity. Account theft through social engineering, phishing, or coercion looks in systems like legitimate access and is therefore harder to detect than "noisy" malware. Added to this is the insider threat: in environments with thousands of authorized individuals, it is important to catch early signals that someone may be under pressure and could abuse their access.
IT and OT under one roof, regulations and the last mile
The perimeter of networks is expanding even on the "last mile": hundreds of thousands of smart meters are permanently connected and often physically accessible from the outside. More and more households have photovoltaics and batteries, which will be involved in active control and balancing of the grid. Compromising such devices can cause not only local technical problems but also undermine public trust in the system.
Another challenge is linking the historically separate worlds of IT and OT: two security teams, two sets of tools, and a persistent shortage of experts. At the same time, regulations are arriving that must be fulfilled not only internally but also across the supply chain. Practice shows that some suppliers would rather end the cooperation than go through demanding requirements, which brings market consequences for companies as well.
