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The power utility platform has introduced a new platform for electric energy companies to collectively help in mitigating the costs of protecting the U.S. power grid from cyber threats.
FREMONT, CA: Orlando-based Fortress Information Security has launched Asset to Vendor Network for Power Utilities (A2V). The new platform is a joint venture with American Electric Power, designed to address concerns about protecting the U.S. power grid from cyber threats by promoting partnerships among electric businesses. A2V helps in mitigating the costs associated with cybersecurity regulatory compliance to cope with budgetary limitations. The creation of A2V Network is consistent with the company's mission to secure critical infrastructure. Fortress' team of professionals look forward to working with AEP and other electric energy companies to achieve the North American grid.
Power utilities share almost the same supply chain vendors for equipment, software, and services for their Bulk Electric Systems (BES). This is an industry trait that has been identified by malicious actors and is resulting in an increasing number of attacks on the power grid. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued new rules to address emerging supply chain risks to the power grid, requiring utilities to develop a plan for managing cyber risk related to their supply chain. The plan consists of procedures that prioritize vendors based on risk and requirements for completing standardized risk assessments on each vendor and verifying the authenticity of software manufacturers and the integrity of software updates.
The volume of supply chain vendors offering equipment, software, and services to power utilities makes the completion of this purpose challenging and expensive for individual organizations, and ultimately the customers, and potentially burdensome for the vendors. Fortress has launched A2V to share information and technology to support the security efforts of these vendors. The technology and data basis for A2V is developed in collaboration with AEP and includes a substantial library of completed vendor risk assessments that comply with the new regulations.
American Electric Power is one of the biggest electric utilities in the United States that delivers electricity and custom energy solutions to nearly 5.4 million consumers in 11 states. The company owns the nation's most notable electricity transmission system, more than a 40,000-mile network, including more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines.
