Raytheon, the Texas A and M Energy Engineering Institute and the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin sponsored a Cyber Security for Utilities Symposium March 29 in Austin.
The symposium raised awareness of recent cyberthreats and vulnerabilities targeted specifically at utility infrastructure. With utilities becoming more connected to the Internet, the gravity of a utility grid being compromised is a serious concern. Such infrastructure security breaches could have disastrous results.
Security professionals provided examples about the very real threats posed to utilities, as well as specific precautions needed to increase infrastructure protection and to prevent service interruption.
"For the last few years, cyberhackers have begun targeting our electric grids, water treatment facilities and natural gas plants," said Charlie Cartwright, Raytheon Network Centric Systems vice president of Integrated Command Systems.
"This symposium was about helping industry leaders learn how to best safeguard valuable assets against these increasingly sophisticated threats."
In addition to Raytheon, the Texas A and M Energy Engineering Institute and the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin, representatives from the FBI, McAfee Inc. and the Department of Homeland Security participated in the symposium.
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