Center for Infrastructure Protection & Homeland Security

From the Director – May/June 2016

Welcome to the June 2016 edition of The CIP Report, in which we focus on security and resilience issues of the Energy Sector. This “lifeline” critical infrastructure sector is always a source of rich insights and path breaking research.

In our first offering, Martin Kessler from AES Corporation examines the events surrounding the power outage in the Ukraine in December 2015. His insights provide us an understanding of this highly disturbing incident and its implications for cybersecurity of the US domestic power grid.

Continuing on the theme of the cyber aspects of energy systems, Dr. Jennifer F. Sklarew from the George Mason University Center for Energy Science and Policy addresses the challenges, gaps, and possible solutions available to ensure the cyber security of the U.S. power grid. Her analysis examines recent government actions and highlights the need for development of international best practices.

The interconnected nature of energy systems creates possibilities for cascade effects – the outcome that low probability, high consequence disruptions will transmit impacts far past the energy sector. Ronald Jacobus III and Tommy Waller provide an overview of the potential threat presented by an atmospheric electromagnetic event on the energy sector and provide options to address the vulnerabilities of electric power grids.

Finally, Edgar Portante, Brian Craig, Jim Kavicky, Leah Talaber, and Stephen Folga from Argonne National Laboratory present a model for investigating the interdependencies between natural gas pipeline systems and proximate electrical power assets based on research conducted in North Dakota and Florida. Their sophisticated techniques provide opportunities for the assessment of impacts and design of solutions.

We are deeply grateful for the dialogue and insights provided with each issue of The CIP Report. We seek the widest reach possible, and accomplish this by the free distribution of this publication to a community of over 5,000 subscribers. The distribution grows each month because of your commitment to professional discourse and outreach to a community that far exceeds our base readership. We would like to offer our partners the opportunity to support this wide reaching publication and invite you to make a financial contribution to The CIP Report, either on a one-time or a recurring basis. Your tax-deductible contribution will receive an acknowledgement in this publication that includes your company logo and link to your corporate website. If you wish to support publication of The CIP Report, please contact me at mtroutma@gmu.edu. We wish you good success in your efforts and look forward to your comments!

Warm Regards,
TroutmanSignature
Mark Troutman. PhD
Director, CIP/HS


Resilience Required! – The Struggle to Educate America about EMP and Secure the U.S. Electric Grid

Posted: May 17, 2016

Ronald Jacobus III and Tommy Waller provide an overview of the potential threat presented by an atmospheric electromagnetic event, providing recommendations for addressing current vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric power grid.

Lessons Learned from the Power Outage in Ukraine and How the Electric Grid of the Future Will Reduce Cybersecurity Risk

Posted: May 24, 2016

Martin Kessler from AES Corporation examines the events surrounding the power outage in the Ukraine in December 2015, with an emphasis on implications for U.S. cybersecurity and the domestic power grid.

Modeling Electric Power and Natural Gas Systems Interdependencies

Posted: June 3, 2016

Edgar Portante, Brian Craig, Jim Kavicky, Leah Talaber, and Stephen Folga from Argonne National Laboratory present a model for investigating the interdependencies between natural gas pipeline systems and proximate electrical power assets, providing examples from North Dakota and Florida.

Cyber Security of Energy Systems: Institutional Challenges

Posted: June 7, 2016

Dr. Jennifer F. Sklarew from the George Mason University Center for Energy Science and Policy addresses the challenges, gaps, and progress toward solutions in the effort to ensure the cyber security of the U.S. power grid, examining recent government actions and assessments and discussing the need for an inventory of international best practices.