Energy Department Announces $20 Million for New Tools and Technology to Strengthen Energy Sector Cybersecurity Protections

As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to strengthen the United States’ cybersecurity defenses, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the availability of up to $20 million for the development of tools and technologies to enhance the cybersecurity of the nation’s energy delivery control systems for electricity, oil, and gas. As part of this funding, the Department of Energy (DOE) will require that award recipients collaborate with the energy sector to test the developed technologies so that they are best designed to meet the unique requirements of energy delivery systems.

The newly announced cost-shared investments are intended to address the following cybersecurity needs of the energy sector, among others:

• Protection of energy delivery control system software and firmware updates;
• Sustainability of critical energy delivery functions and remote access to field devices while responding to a cyber-intrusion; and
• Detection of compromises within the supply chain and manipulation of power grid components.