Using Security Analytics to Protect Utility Assets

In this brave new world of cyber hacking, terrorism, and similar shenanigans, utilities face great challenges when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure.  And one of the newest methods for doing so is “security analytics,” which utilizes a combination of artificial intelligence and machine learning to predict, detect and mitigate threats.

How Security Analytics Works

The key output of this is a risk-scoring model that monitors and analyzes a plethora of variables to determine the presence of a threat.  It helps automate what human security experts used to do manually.

The model also aims to prioritize threats based on degree of magnitude so that decision makers can focus only on those anomalies that have a potentially large impact.  Simply put, security analytics helps utilities up their risk management game by providing intelligence, not just data or information.

Multiple energy and utility companies are piloting these types initiatives.  The technology is in its infancy but has a large degree of potential.  It is grounded in so-called “big data” which has traditionally been utilized to predict demand and improve efficiency but is now evolving to include the security element as well.

For more detail on security analytics, check out this article.  In the final analysis, physical security protocols are no longer adequate; these days, it is all about the data.  Tools like security analytics can help improve the automation, accuracy and effectiveness of a utility’s cybersecurity efforts.  And from an emergency preparedness perspective, this is fantastic news!