Energy Department Releases New Guidance for Strengthening Cybersecurity of the Grid’s Supply Chain

The Energy Department has released new guidance to help US industry strengthen energy delivery system cybersecurity.

Developed through a public-private working group including federal agencies and private industry leaders, the Department’s Cybersecurity Procurement Language for Energy Delivery Systems guidance provides strategies and suggested language to help the US energy sector and technology suppliers build in cybersecurity protections during product design and manufacturing.

The new guidance focuses on helping utilities and other energy sector organizations purchase technologies that include cybersecurity protections and features -- improving the overall reliability and security of energy delivery systems and ensuring that the testing, manufacturing, delivery, and installation of new technologies emphasize cybersecurity requirements.

This energy delivery systems guidance builds on the Cybersecurity Procurement Language for Control Systems guidance developed in collaboration between industry, the Energy Department, its Idaho National Laboratory, and the Department of Homeland Security in 2009.