Now in its fifth year, the Utility Cyber Security Forum is focused on providing real-world preparation to utilities and other energy providers for successfully dealing with cyber security threats. Critical precautions and enabling technologies are examined in detail, with the aim of preparing utilities for the threats that confront their unique type of ICS and SCADA infrastructures.
Topics to be addressed include:
- The current status of nation-state level APTs for the energy industry
- Defense-in-depth networking strategies
- Dealing with various protocols in the network (utility protocols, manufacturing protocols, etc.)
- Data protection
- Architecting a network security solution to address cyber threats
- Creating a culture of cyber compliance within a utility
- Holisitc approaches to achieving greater network visibility
- Integrating natural gas, oil and pipeline industry as it relates to smart grid, SCADA & control systems security
- Addressing the IT / OT divide
- Protecting substations and distribution and transmission infrastructure from cyber attacks
- Cyber security for operational technologies and smart systems
- Ensuring grid SCADA and PLC grid control networks cyber security
- What works, what doesn't, and what to put in place
- Steps for recovering from an industrial control system cyber breach
- Best practices in reducing human sources of vulnerability
- And more
In-Depth Discussion and Information Sharing: The interactive format of the Forum fosters group discussion among peers of critical challenges and strategies for addressing them successfully
SCADA / Critical Infrastructure Focus: The forum will zero in on issues of special relevance to electric utilities and other energy providers in the U.S. -- versus more general enterprise cyber security topics
Objective & Authoritative: The agenda is driven by practitioners and innovators at U.S. utilities and cyber security companies -- learn directly from the experts on the front lines of utility network security
Ample Networking: The emphasis is on the real-world case studies, best practices, and lessons learned for individuals at investor-owned, municipal, and co-op utility organizations -- ample time is set aside to meet with solution providers and refine your cyber security strategy
Who Should Attend?
- Electric, water and gas utility executives and cybersecurity managers
- Cyber security and IT / OT professionals
- Software and hardware technology providers
- Planning and risk management analysts
- SCADA and industrial control system professionals
- Cyber seccurity consultants and analysts
- Executives at energy management service providers
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The schedule of sessions and speakers for the 5th Annual Utility Cyber Security Forum is currently in development.
Industry professionals who are interested in delivering a presentation on one of the subjects below -- or a related topic -- are encouraged to submit a speaking proposal to info@smartgridobserver.com
Business Issues, Regulatory Developments, Market Trends and Drivers
- Protecting substations and distribution and transmission infrastructure from cyber attacks
- Planning for ICS cyber security from the outset
- Cyber security for PLC grid control and SCADA networks
- Managing cyber security challenges introduced by distributed energy resources
- Dealing with advanced persistent threats that exploit flaws in industrial control systems
- End-to-end cyber security across operations and supply chains
- The current state of security risk and threats for utilities
- Creating a security-centric organization
- Best practices and lessons learned from successful utility implementations
- Evaluating the risk and determining the ROI for cyber security investment
- Dealing with catastrophic systems failure
- Evaluating third-party vendors in building a cyber security defense strategy
- Developing genuine security: Beyond check-the-box
- Implementing correct organization and processes in order to augment cyber security technologies
Technology Advances and Strategies
- Key lessons learned from White Hat utility vulnerability testing / ethical hacking programs (redacted)
- Security and Blockchain / distributed ledger technology
- Defending multiple attack surfaces in a DER environment
- Advances in automation for evaluating network security status
- What to do once hackers and malware are already in
- Simulating attacks and threats to evaluate preparedness
- Building cyber resiliency into utility networks
- Adapting cybersecurity to OT environments
- What works, what doesn't, and what to put in place
- Next-gen technology advances for industrial control systems security
- The state of silicon-based cybersecurity functionalities for utilities
- Improving situational awareness
- Safeguarding both IT and OT from cyber threats
- Adopt monitoring methods used in the IT industry
- Latest NERC CIP compliance solutions
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Sample Attendee Feedback
The roundtable format and size are great. The panels and sessions in the morning were excellent.
- Robin Berthier, CEO and Founder, Network Perception
"Everything went well. The topics and speakers chosen are very relevant to what is happening in the industry. In fact, the presentations contents are state of the art. The conference is able to attract the utilities, which is always a challenge."
- Ramesh Reddi, CTO, CybSecBCML, Inc
"Just the right size. Excellent industry participants, excellent speakers, excellent networking."
- Dr. Robin Podmore, President, IncSys
"Very good. I liked the energy producers' open discussion of issues they are working on."
- John McGuire, Vice President-Sales, OPSWAT
"Well organized and very informative. The panels of experts were well selected. Excellent presentations - well done!"
- Anita Bhat, Principal Member of Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories
"Really enjoyed the conversations. The presentations were extremely useful. Very relevant."
- April Morelock, Lead, Cyber Security Operations Team, Midcontinent ISO
Previous Forum Participants Include:
- AlertEnterprise
- Annaba University | UBMA, Algeria
- Arizona Public Service Company
- Awesense
- BC Hydro
- Blockchain Engineering Council (BEC)
- Bonneville Power Authority
- Calpine
- Citrix
- Cleco Corporation
- Control Infotech Pvt Ltd
- Cordoba Corporation
- CPS Energy
- CybSecBCML, Inc.
- Dispersive Networks
- Doyon Utilities, LLC
- Dragos, Inc.
- Duke Energy
- DynTek
- EDF Renewables
- Edison Electric Institute
- Electric Power Research Institute
- Exclusive Networks
- Exelon Corporation
- Finite State
- Fortinet
- GridBright
- Guardtime Energy
- Guernsey
- Guidehouse Insights
- Illinois Commerce Commission
- IncSys
- Indegy
- JPEmbedded LLC
- JSC Institute of Information Technology
- Kent Power
- Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
- Lea County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- McAfee
- Microsoft
- Midcontinent ISO
- MITRE Corporation
- National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, NIST
- NES
- Network Perception
- Nevermore Security
- Northern Indiana Public Service Co.
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
- Nozomi Networks
- NRG Energy
- OASD HD&GS, Office of the Principal Cyber Advisor
- OMICRON Electronics
- OPSWAT
- Pacific Gas and Electric
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- POWER Engineers
- Protect Our Power
- Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)
- Puget Sound Energy
- Pyramid Security Advisors
- Quadra Applications & Technology
- Resilience
- RSI Security
- S&C Electric Company
- Sandia National Laboratory
- Sargent & Lundy
- Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
- Sempra / SDGE / SoCalGas
- Southern California Edison
- Southern Company
- Synack
- Tenable
- The CSA Group
- The Market Connection
- Transformer Protector Corp.
- Tri-County Electric Cooperative
- Vectren Energy
- West Monroe Partners
- West Wing Advisory Services
- XONA
- XTec Inc.
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Exhibition and Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorship of the Forum ensures that your technology solution, consulting expertise, services, and thought leadership are positioned prominently to electric utility executives who are focused on ensuring the cyber security of their networks and organizations.
This is a unique opportunity to target a senior group of decision-makers and network managers who will be in attendance.
Sponsors receive a range of valuable exposure opportunities for highlighting their involvement in the Forum and maximizing their interaction with attendees. Prominent logo recognition, tabletop exhibit space, and the opportunity to distribute corporate information to attendees are just a few benefits of sponsorship.
For full information and to arrange your participation, please contact us.
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Media Partners
Published in Fremont, California, CIOReview (www.cioreview.com) is one of the leading print magazines in the US. It is the knowledge platform where C-suite executives deliberate on critical market challenges and current technological trends across industries. We are a unique magazine because all of our contributors are senior executives from the industry. Visit www.cioreview.com
Guidehouse Insights is a premier market intelligence and advisory firm covering the global energy transformation with a focus on emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Our goal is to present an objective, unbiased view of market opportunities across dozens of industry verticals. Guidehouse Insights is not beholden to any special interests and is thus able to offer clear, actionable advice to help clients manage transformation, unfettered by technology hype, political agendas, or financial influences that are inherent in emerging technology markets. Visit www.guidehouseinsights.com
The OSGP Alliance is the global non-profit association dedicated to promoting the adoption of the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) and infrastructure for smart grid applications towards a future proof modern smart grid. With a key focus on security, smart metering, smart grid, grid analytics, distribution network management and smart cities our members, including utilities, hardware manufacturers, service providers and system integrators, all share a common goal and vision: promoting open standards for energy demand side management, smart grid and smart metering systems. Visit www.osgp.org.
World Business Outlook is a print and online magazine providing comprehensive coverage and analysis of the financial industry, international business and the global economy. Visit www.worldbusinessoutlook.com
Since 2012 we've published our Cybersecurity Conference directory - which has now become the 'go-to' place to discover where, when and what events are taking place in our community. Visit www.infosec-conferences.com
Energy XPRT is a global marketplace with solutions and suppliers for the energy sector, with product catalogs, articles, industry events, publications & more.
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Event Venue: Chicago Conference Center
205 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605 | 2nd Floor
Located in downtown Chicago's Loop, the Conference Center is steps away from the city's magnificent lakefront with world-renowned Millennium and Grant Parks, marvelous museums, restaurants and retail shopping.
>> Directions in Google Maps
>> Nearby Hotels
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TO REGISTER: https://smartgridobserver.com/security/register.htm
CONTACT ORGANIZER: https://smartgridobserver.com/security/contact.htm
