Security News > 2022 > January > Why the UK’s energy sector is fragile and ripe to cyber attacks

One sector that I believe is ripe and particularly susceptible to cyber attacks currently is the UK's energy sector.

Impacted by a surge in demand for energy by countries across the northern hemisphere, the supply chain that services the UK's critical need for gas and electricity is currently grappling with a widespread energy crisis as we head into winter.

In just one week at the end of November, both Orbit Energy and Entice Energy ceased trading and Bulb was placed in "Special administration" - bringing the total number of companies to go bust this year to 28.

These risks are not theoretical- we only have to look at some of the recent supply chain attacks that have caused widespread disruption: Kaseya, Colonial Pipeline, the May 2021 ransomware attack against the Health Service Executive.

The National Cyber Security Centre recently revealing that it has defended the UK from a record number of cyber attacks in the last year, including those targeted at supply chains, has made it clear just how vulnerable the UK's energy sector is likely to be at this moment in time, and why it's imperative that the industry pays attention and invests in its cybersecurity operations.

Once these investments have been made, keeping these robust response plans in place over the long-term is going to be key to sustained and consistent protection for the energy sector and every other area of our supply chain.

News URL

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2022/01/03/uks-energy-sector/