{"id":11581,"date":"2018-08-08T16:12:03","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T16:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/08\/as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:52:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:52:54","slug":"as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/home\/2018\/08\/08\/as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it\/","title":{"rendered":"As Russians hack the US grid, a look at what\u2019s needed to protect it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. electricity grid is hard to defend because of its enormous size and heavy dependency on digital communication and computerized control software. The number of potential targets is growing as \u201cinternet of things\u201d devices, such as smart meters, solar arrays and household batteries, connect to smart grid systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=nGBlVWwAAAAJ&#038;hl=en\">researchers of<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/citations?user=vkOTo_EAAAAJ&#038;hl=en\">grid security<\/a>, we believe that current security standards mandated by federal regulations provide sufficient protection against observed threats. But recent incidents demonstrate the ongoing challenge of ensuring everyone follows the guidelines, which themselves must change over time to keep up with technological shifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/cyber\/2018\/08\/07\/hackers-targeted-a-fake-power-grid-is-the-real-one-next\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/electric-grid.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Hackers targeted a fake power grid. Is the real one next?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A honey pot experiment showed how suspected criminals may try to hack into America&#039;s electric grid.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The threat is real: In late 2015 and again in 2016, Russian hackers <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/cybersecurity-of-the-power-grid-a-growing-challenge-73102\">shut down parts of Ukraine\u2019s power grid<\/a>. In March 2018, federal officials warned that Russians had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.us-cert.gov\/ncas\/alerts\/TA18-074A\">penetrated the computers of multiple U.S. electric utilities<\/a> and were able to gain access to critical control systems. Four months later, the Wall Street Journal reported that the hackers\u2019 access had included <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/russian-hackers-reach-u-s-utility-control-rooms-homeland-security-officials-say-1532388110\">privileges that were sufficient to cause power outages<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specific technical details have not yet been made public, so it\u2019s hard to know exactly what the hackers did or gained access to. What has been revealed is that these breaches were accomplished with common hacking techniques, such as sending <a href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/information-technology\/2017\/07\/dhs-fbi-warn-of-attempts-to-hack-nuclear-plants\/\">spearphishing emails to specific employees<\/a>. Apparently, and reassuringly, the U.S. attacks didn\u2019t involve <a href=\"https:\/\/dragos.com\/blog\/crashoverride\/CrashOverride-01.pdf\">more advanced techniques seen in the Ukraine incidents<\/a>, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/2011\/07\/how-digital-detectives-deciphered-stuxnet\/\">custom-made software to target specific systems<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, human errors will inevitably lead to mistakes that will weaken the security of some of the thousands of digital devices needed to protect the grid. And more sophisticated attackers may still find and exploit currently unknown vulnerabilities. Therefore, it\u2019s important for electric utilities, grid operators and vendors to remain vigilant and deploy multiple layers of defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/08\/07\/mattis-says-russia-sanctioned-2016-election-meddling-outlines-protections-for-midterms\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/43911874851_4fc7916555_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Mattis says Russia sanctioned 2016 election meddling, outlines protections for midterms<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Mattis said troops have a part in defending the Constitution and US elections.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Major players have some protections<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two main aspects to grid architecture that need defending in different ways. The first element is the bulk power system, often referred to as the \u201ctransmission grid.\u201d It connects high-capacity power plants, transmission wires and substations that collectively generate and transport huge quantities of electricity over hundreds or thousands of miles. The rest of the grid is made up of smaller distribution grids \u2013 connected with the bulk power system \u2013 delivering electricity to homes and businesses around the country. The strongest standards for protection apply only to the bulk power system; though many distribution systems follow the same guidelines, they remain optional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. federal rules, as well as those set by the agency that governs the North American grid \u2013 which also includes large parts of Canada \u2013 require companies operating elements of the bulk power system to follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerc.com\/pa\/Stand\/Pages\/CIPStandards.aspx\">certain basic cybersecurity measures<\/a>, including monitoring their networks to detect intrusions and mandating <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/the-age-of-hacking-brings-a-return-to-the-physical-key-73094\">two-factor authentication for user logins<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many large utilities do even more, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nist.gov\/cyberframework\">assessing their risks in standardized ways<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerc.com\/pa\/CI\/CIPOutreach\/GridEX\/GridEx%20IV%20Public%20Lessons%20Learned%20Report.pdf\">practicing responses to computer intrusions<\/a>. These exercises often include hundreds of companies and organizations rehearsing how to collaborate to detect and confine attacks and restore service to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Smaller companies are more vulnerable<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because transmission grid utilities should already have some protections against network intrusions, it is likely that the Russian hackers looked elsewhere, infiltrating smaller distribution utilities. If that\u2019s so, any potential power shutdown or other problems in those systems would be confined to smaller areas \u2013 like towns or cities. That, in turn, means fewer customers would be affected, with less work needed to get power back on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it highlights a worrying reality: Smaller and midsized companies that operate electricity distribution systems often have inadequate resources to invest in full cybersecurity protections. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/sites\/prod\/files\/2015\/12\/f28\/united-states-electricity-industry-primer.pdf\">more than 3,000 utilities in the U.S.<\/a> have trouble finding sufficiently skilled workers who understand how the computerized and physical components of the grid work together and how to protect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, utilities rely on complex supply chains to provide equipment, software, maintenance and other business functions. These external contractors and vendors may not implement protections as rigorous as the utilities. And their computer systems often have connections to the utilities\u2019 networks, which may be considered trusted and safe, rather than potential avenues of attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Stepping up defenses<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fixing all these potential problems is complex. First, all utility companies \u2013 even the smallest \u2013 should adopt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerc.com\/pa\/Stand\/Pages\/CIPStandards.aspx\">basic security protections<\/a> like those required of large utilities. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/constancedouris\/2018\/01\/16\/as-cyber-threats-to-the-electric-grid-rise-utilities-regulators-seek-solutions\/\">Some states<\/a> are moving to require this of the power companies serving their residents, but many aren\u2019t yet. Further, we recommend all companies that are part of the grid participate in coordinated grid exercises to improve cybersecurity preparedness and share best practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, all utility companies need to take steps to ensure the hardware and software they use are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerc.com\/pa\/Stand\/CIP0103RD\/Implementation_Plan_Clean_071117.pdf\">from trustworthy sources<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/ics-cert.us-cert.gov\/advisories\/ICSA-14-178-01\">have not been tampered with or modified<\/a> to allow unauthorized users in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It won\u2019t be enough to protect against today\u2019s threats. Adversaries are likely to employ increasingly sophisticated techniques that exploit both computer and human vulnerabilities. Companies need to ensure they engage in what might be called sustainable cybersecurity \u2013 ongoing processes that let systems and staff adapt over time, to stay ahead of the threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers have an important role too, exploring ways that emerging technologies like cloud computing, blockchain and big-data analytics could help reduce risks without introducing any additional weaknesses. Further, researchers should identify more advanced ways to secure the grid, and reduce these systems\u2019 complexity, which would limit both current risks and future unknowns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here: <\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it-100489\"><i>http:\/\/theconversation.com\/as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it-100489<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. electricity grid is hard to defend because of its enormous size and heavy dependency on digital communication and computerized control software. The number of potential targets is growing as \u201cinternet of things\u201d devices, such as smart meters, solar arrays and household batteries, connect to smart grid systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":32225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":24,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[106,31,33,3576],"tags":[],"coauthors":[7460,7462],"class_list":["post-11581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-brief","category-home","category-newsletters","category-opinion"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"3FN4BH33KFCIRO7DZE7543HNSU","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/2018\/08\/08\/as-russians-hack-the-us-grid-a-look-at-whats-needed-to-protect-it\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>As Russians hack the US grid, a look at what\u2019s needed to protect it - Federal Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The U.S. electricity grid is hard to defend because of its enormous size and heavy dependency on digital communication and computerized control software. 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