Secure and reliable utility operations are vital to national security across the globe. The frequency of attacks on critical infrastructure is rapidly rising, not just in the U.S., but across the globe. Here’s what security leaders can do to protect utilities.

American Electric Power has named Therace Risch to a new position as senior vice president and chief information & technology officer.

Xcel Energy announced that James W. Sample will join the company as Vice President, Chief Security Officer.

Federal regulators have stepped up oversight of the security of the nation’s power utilities as they work to safeguard the grid from threats and incidents such as widespread, long-duration blackouts caused by digital saboteurs.

Burlington Electric, which serves 19,600 customers in Vermont, said it found malicious software on company laptop, and it's blaming the Russians.  

While utility enterprises are taking steps to detect and deter physical security threats, preventing damage and enabling recovery remain significant challenges, according to The State of Physical Grid Security 2015.

How can the U.S. strengthen the defense and resilience of critical water and electric infrastructure against cyber and physical attacks?