According to DOE, the projects address cybersecurity concerns from two approaches: 1) cybersecurity research and development (R&D) and 2) the establishment of the National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization (NESCO).
DOE is providing $20 million for eight cybersecurity R&D projects. These projects are designed to research, develop, and commercialize a range of cybersecurity solutions to strengthen the US electric grid against cyber intrusion and assist owners and operators in complying with cybersecurity regulations. Together, these projects are designed to bring cybersecurity protection into the utilities, out to the substations, and to homes.
As an example, Sypris Electronics in Tampa, Fla., is developing a centralized cryptographic key management system. This project is intended to improve the security of the smart grid meters at residences by ensuring the data remains private through providing and managing electronic data keys that only allow trusted parties to access the data. This project will receive $3.1 million in funding.
DOE is also providing $10 million to set up the NESCO, which is a public-private partnership that will work to improve electric sector computer and network cybersecurity, including those used in the smart grid. Working with the DOE and other federal agencies, it will bring together domestic and international electric grid security experts, software developers and users to focus research efforts; to assess and test the security of new cyber technologies, architectures, and applications; and to analyze, monitor, and disseminate infrastructure weaknesses and threats.
Two organizations are receiving awards to support this effort. The Energy Sector Security Consortium (EnergySec) will form NESCO. The other organization, the Electric Power Research Institute, plans to provide research and analysis resources for NESCO.
EnergySec works to improve electric system reliability by supplying data analysis and forensics capabilities for cyber-related threats. It also assists in creating a framework to identify and prepare for challenges to grid reliability. This project will receive $5.9 million in funding.
“The development of technologies that can provide defense-in-depth cybersecurity solutions, and increased insight from private-public collaborations, will allow us to better protect the nation's energy delivery systems that keep our lights on and the power flowing,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.