DOE forms new energy infrastructure cybersecurity office

Market news | February 20, 2018

By Rich Pell

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The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry.

“DOE plays a vital role in protecting our nation’s energy infrastructure from cyber threats, physical attack and natural disaster, and as Secretary, I have no higher priority,” said Perry. “This new office best positions the Department to address the emerging threats of tomorrow while protecting the reliable flow of energy to Americans today.”

Funding for the new office was included in President Trump’s FY19 budget request to bolster DOE’s efforts in cybersecurity and energy security. It specified initiatives ranging from cybersecurity of the electrical grid to prioritization of early-stage R&D focused on hardening energy infrastructure.

“To ensure robust cybersecurity programs across the energy sector, the Budget Request provides funding in multiple programs, including slightly more than $95 million in the reorganized Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response with a renewed focus on early-stage activities that improve cybersecurity and resilience to harden and evolve critical grid infrastructure,” the budget request said. “These activities include early-stage R&D at national laboratories to develop the next generation of cybersecurity control systems, components, and devices including a greater ability to share time-critical data with industry to detect, prevent, and recover from cyber events.”

The new CESER office will be led by an Assistant Secretary that will focus on energy infrastructure security, support the expanded national security responsibilities assigned to the Department, and report to the Under Secretary of Energy.

U.S. Department of Energy