57% of utility executives surveyed said their organizations have experienced cyberattacks significant enough to test systems resilience. Only 40% agree their cybersecurity strategies are robust. Additionally, just 26% of utilities have designed resilience parameters into their technology models and a mere 5% have tested intentional attacks on systems. Utilities must enhance cybersecurity by embracing digital capabilities and defending against cyber threats through more sophisticated measures.

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Assault and batteries:
Protecting all aspects of the grid

2. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Utilities are more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks,
partly because of the batteries used to bring enhanced reliability to the grid.
According to Accenture research:
of executives
surveyed said their organizations
have experienced cyberattacks
significant enough to test the
resilience of their IT systems.
Only agree
their cybersecurity
strategies are robust.
40%57%

3. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Utilities are similar to other industries when it
comes to warding off cyber threats.
According to our research, only 26% of
utility executives have designed resilience
parameters into their technology model.
Globally, a mere 5% have tested intentional
failures or attacks on their systems.
Utility executives must start doing both so
they are prepared when, not if, attacks happen.

4. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Accenture analysis shows that, in the last five years,
nearly 20% of new power generation in the US came
from distributed energy resources (DER).
And fully 60% of utility executives anticipate applying energy
storage solutions to integrate DER as “shock absorbers” for the grid.
That’s the good news.

5. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
The bad news:
With DER comes increased cybersecurity risks.
a lifetime when it comes to protecting assets that can
be irreversibly damaged in the space of a few seconds.
Accenture analysis indicates the “discover and cure”
time for cyberattacks is roughly eight months:

6. significantly enhance
cybersecurity capabilities.
Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Utilities need a two-pronged strategy to
protect all aspects of their operations:
embrace digital capabilities
2
1

7. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
To shore up operations against cyberattacks,
utilities need to:
Embrace digital
Utilities must embrace the realities of digital
business models and core enabling technologies.
As with every generation of disruptive technology,
the temptation to avoid or delay adoption is
seductive, but inevitably incorrect.

8. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Defend cyber
Utilities must develop sophisticated cyber defense
capabilities. Moving beyond traditional risk
mitigation protocols (like compliance with
standards and basic “hygiene”).
To shore up operations against cyberattacks,
utilities need to:

9. Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
Integrate the industry
Addressing ever-evolving cyber threats from
sophisticated aggressors is complex. While some
actions are suitable for individual utility adoption,
others will require integration across the industry
sector and regulatory collaboration.
To shore up operations against cyberattacks,
utilities need to:

10. LEARN MORE
about how to stabilize the grid while
securing against cyberattacks with our
full report:
Copyright © 2016 Accenture All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture.
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Assault and batteries:
Protecting all aspects of the grid