Traditionally, utility companies are faced threats from natural disasters, vandalism and equipment failures. However, the digital age has introduced a new and growing danger—cyberattacks. These attacks stem from state-sponsored hackers, cybercriminals, hacktivist, terrorist and even amateur hackers. Common attack methods include phishing, malware, ransomware, and software vulnerabilities. As technology evolves, so do cyber threats, posing escalating risks. Consider the following trends:
Rising Cyber Threats in Utilities
Cost of Breaches
In 2022, the energy sector’s average data breach cost reached $4.72 million.
U.S Trends
In 2024, cyberattacks on U.S. utilities surged by nearly 70% from previous year, averaging 1,162 attacks per month, up from 689 in 2023.
Global Trends
Between January 2023 and January 2024, critical infrastructure worldwide faced over 420 million attacks—equivalent to 13 attacks per second.
Ransomware Attacks
Between November 2023 and October 2024, ransomware attacks in the utilities sector rose by 42%, with 75 companies appearing on ransomware data-leak sites.
IT and OT Integration Risks
The increase convergence of IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems has made utilities more attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Why Are Utility Companies Vulnerable?
Utilities are key part of the critical infrastructure around the world, making them a valuable target for disruption and extortion. Many utilities still operate with outdated software and insufficient cybersecurity, leaving them highly susceptible to attacks. While some companies are adopting stronger defenses, cybercriminals continue to evolve their tactics.
To combat these threats, utilities must implement robust security measures.
Key Cybersecurity Strategies for Utility Companies
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) software
Aggregates and analyzes data to detect anomalies.
24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC)
Provides real-time monitoring, threat detection, and incident response.
Incident Response Plans
Outlines strategies to minimize damage and downtime during cyber incidents.
Compliance with Industry Standards
Adhere to frameworks like NERC-CIP for electricity and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.
AI and Machine Learning
Enhances anomaly detection, predictive threat analytics, and automated threat response.
Blockchain
Ensure tamper-proof logging and data integrity in some applications.
Seamless Collaboration and Backup
Software that brings all these tools together mitigates risk and ensures uptime.
Strengthening Security with visability
Visability from Activu enhances security for leading energy and utility companies by consolidating essential data into unified, custom dashboards. Our advanced visual collaboration technology enables seamless coordination among security teams, control rooms (leveraging their video walls), and remote operations. This next-generation approach accelerates incident response and resolution.
Widely used tools like ServiceNow collect real-time data from various physical and cyber monitoring systems. Meanwhile, cybersecurity and network monitoring tools like Splunk, ThousandEyes, and others, continuously safeguard specific systems and vulnerabilities to ensure 24/7 security and operational stability.
Visability integrates all your apps into a single platform, eliminating the need to juggle multiple tools or search for critical data during an incident. Alerts are instantly shared with relevant team members and executive leadership, accompanied by a dynamic, real-time dashboard that consolidates key apps, cameras, and monitoring tools. This ensures decision makers receive immediate, actionable insights, keeping your team synchronized and ready to respond from the very first moment of a crisis—whether on a control room video wall, conference room display wall, or remotely out in the field, via laptop, or a mobile phone.
Security Solutions for Today’s Threat Landscape
Furthermore, visability stands as the only NERC/CIP-compliant video wall and collaboration platform that has also earned approval for use in the U.S. government’s highest-security facilities. Designed to meet the most rigorous cybersecurity and operational standards, visability provides unmatched reliability for critical infrastructure protection. As a proud U.S. company, Activu upholds the highest standards of security and compliance, reinforced by our ISO 27001 certification, ensuring robust data protection and risk management.
Protect your utility from cyber threats
Let’s connect. Contact us today or request a demo.
Utility Case Studies
- Future-Proofing Power: Transforming MTE’s Control Room for Unparalleled Efficiency
The largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region, faced challenges with antiquated technology. - DTE Energy: Storm Resilience Revolutionizes a Utility Control Center
Challenge It all started with an unprecedented windstorm in March of 2017. Windspeeds peaked at 68 miles per hour throughout… Read more: DTE Energy: Storm Resilience Revolutionizes a Utility Control Center - Integrated Operations Center: Flexibility & Security Across Critical Operations
A large Northwestern U.S. power utility is leading the nation in innovation, and a seamless operating picture, through a unified approach across functions through vis/ability. - EnXchange: Virtual Power Plants, Digital Twins, and a More Connected World
Users of enx vis/ability collect a more detailed view of their operations than ever before, gain exclusive analytics, and easily share insights with teams in the control room, another facility, or in virtual command centers, accessible anywhere. - PGE’s Video Wall & Control Room Add Resilience & Collaboration
The Integrated Operations Center is part of the nerve center of PGE’s smart grid. At the IOC, we centralize PGE’s… Read more: PGE’s Video Wall & Control Room Add Resilience & Collaboration - How an Award-Winning Municipal Utility Enhances Power Restoration Efforts
Challenge Despite being recognized repeatedly as a Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3®), Marietta Power wasn’t content to rest on its… Read more: How an Award-Winning Municipal Utility Enhances Power Restoration Efforts - Keeping Alabama Warm
Challenge When Alagasco began planning their new operations center, they had two goals: create an improved job environment where employees… Read more: Keeping Alabama Warm - Aiding one the largest co-ops in the U.S. to reliably supply power
Activu system provided Cobb EMC with capabilities beyond their expectations. - Keeping the lights on for 19.8 million customers
An ISO chose Activu’s software-based system to help them monitor critical operations and improve incident response and decision making.