The recent pandemic radically reoriented public utilities as they empowered remote and hybrid teams to maintain operational continuity in any environment. Moving forward, it’s clear that hybrid teams composed of remote and on-site employees will become more common among utilities. While this presents unique opportunities to curb expenses while boosting certain capabilities, it also presents novel cybersecurity challenges that utilities can’t ignore.
Most importantly, according to a survey of 1,726 utility professionals, cybersecurity challenges are amplified as utilities connect OT assets to existing IT systems. In other words, engaging and operating infrastructure using OT resources empowers teams to work effectively from anywhere in the world. However, when not adequately protected, these systems create cybersecurity vulnerabilities that put people, profit and critical resources at great risk. In response, utilities need to secure their OT remote operations with solutions that combine resiliency, security and affordability.