Energy Magazine October 2020 | Page 77

“ Perhaps the biggest disruption to old paradigms of cybersecurity has been the necessity for remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic ”

“ Perhaps the biggest disruption to old paradigms of cybersecurity has been the necessity for remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic ”

security means that cyberattacks can be detected faster , solved quickly and analysed to help prevent similar occurrences . However , AI , as in many of its applications across industries , remains in its nascent stages at this time . “ Deep machine learning seems promising ; grid operators are deploying AI systems to detect attacks , but algorithms currently used are relatively simple and still require a lot of human interaction . There is considerable development still required to unlock its full potential .”
For Nijk , these latent prospects indicate a bright and encouraging future for the development of cybersecurity in energy : “ In my mind , there is no doubt that we are only beginning to realise the possibilities of cybersecurity capabilities within the energy domain .” However , he re-emphasises that collaboration among companies , their partners and local authorities will determine how quickly the transformation can take place . With the ubiquitous importance of energy to modern lifestyles and the very real danger to human life posed by poor cybersecurity , Nijk posits that government involvement is inevitable . “ It will become crucial to break with traditional patterns prohibiting the sharing of information between parties , as well as finding effective ways for creating and implementing security standards needed for European grids .” The positive work that organisations like the ENCS can bestow by pooling independent expertise , providing a platform for industry lobbyists and acting as an intermediary between providers and regulators are highly apparent . Breaking down barriers within energy could be crucial for tackling the evolving issue of cybersecurity .
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