TenneT, a transmission systems operator (TSOs) active in the Netherlands and Germany, has joined the European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS), becoming the first TSO to do so.
ENCS seeks to safeguard cyber security across the European energy sector through a membership-based approach. TenneT is a multinational TSO with more than 22,000 km of high voltage connections ensuring secure supply to 41 million end-users.
Siem Bruijns, Senior Manager Corporate Safety & Security at TenneT says: “TenneT is very aware of its critical role in daily life of people and businesses so we attach great importance to attaining a very high level of cyber resilience and security. Cyber threats develop rapidly, so it’s essential for TenneT to have an independent centre of knowledge to support us. We already knew the quality of ENCS’ expertise by participating in its SCADA Red Team/Blue Team training and technical advisories. By joining as a member, we hope to intensify this relationship.”
ENCS already works with utilities, sharing knowledge, collaborating on research projects and conducting training. As ENCS’ first TSO member, the Network says TenneT represents a step towards improving cyber security across the grid, building on ENCS’s recent memorandum of understanding with ENTSO-E – the European Network of Transmission System Operators, as well as previous work with TenneT.
Particular areas of focus will be substation security requirements, and operational technology (OT) security monitoring and incident response.
Anjos Nijk, Managing Director, ENCS says: “To keep European power grids – and consumers – safe from cyber threats, we have to collectively take security seriously at every level. We have a history of strong collaboration with distribution network operators already, but our work with TenneT means we can help keep infrastructure safe at every level of the grid.”
Visit www.encs.eu.
