Cyber Resilience in the Face of Questionable Provenance

In response to geopolitical tensions and cybersecurity threats, the energy sector faces pressing challenges, as highlighted by Duke Energy's recent shift from using Contemporary Amperex Technology Company (CATL)-manufactured batteries. This panel will explore the implications of such decisions for smaller entities lacking Duke Energy's resources. That is, how could organizations potentially run components or services, such as battery storage or IoT devices provided by less than ideal sources safely and securely, mitigating concerns posed by Congress and cybersecurity experts?

Experts Mark Clancy, Jonathan Pollet, and Louverture “LoJo” Jones will discuss alternative secure architectures and strategies to mitigate risks associated with technologies of contentious provenance. Discussions of mitigation techniques will include everyday solutions like network segmentation, encryption, access control, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and firmware updates, while also exploring solutions such as RF spectrum monitoring, spectrum interference, one-way diodes, faraday cages, next gen dedicated network capabilities offered by telecoms like T-Mobile and other mitigating controls.

Learning objectives:
1. Strategies for entities with fewer resources than Duke Energy to handle similar cybersecurity concerns.
2. Alternative technological architectures that could mitigate cybersecurity risks.
3. The impact of geopolitical considerations on cybersecurity strategies in the energy sector.