Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1033088
LET'S TALK ABOUT CYBER SECURITY "As the system becomes more and more interconnected there are more points of vulnerability. Hackers can break into your system and take control. These are critical infrastructure assets. Just think about a city like London, if someone was able to hack into the distribution network and take the grid down it would cause complete chaos." These are the views of one industry representative when asked to give their opinion on the cyber security of networks. Scary isn't it? Although work is being done to keep networks safe, there is always more that can be done. And in my view one of the best ways to prevent attacks from happening is to talk. I think that industries, and I'm not just talking about the energy sector, can be a bit too insular when it comes to tackling cyber security. Whilst I appreciate that certain things need to be kept within the walls of a company, where possible, best practice should be shared. Learning from other sectors is also key. Having previously worked on a magazine in the healthcare sector, I know only too well how crippling a cyber attack can be. Back in May 2017 NHS hospitals across England were targeted by hackers who demanded a ransom to unencrypt ‰ les. This cyber attack saw almost 50 Trusts targeted. Some GP surgeries were told to shut down phone and IT systems while A&Es told people not to attend unless it was a real emergency. In the a' ermath it transpired that all organisations infected by WannaCry shared the same vulnerability and could have taken simple action to protect themselves. In this issue (page 22), you can read about how National Grid has been working with Lagoni to secure a • eet of 25 compressors and terminals, amid an increasing risk of cyber-attacks. Ultimately, communication is key if we're going to keep critical infrastructure like hospitals and energy networks safe from cyber threats, both now and in the future. THE FUTURE 30 Supply chain evolution How is the supply chain adapting to meet the changing needs of clients and the wider industry? Costain's Cameron Tonkin – sector director, power – speaks to Network. 32 Delivering whole energy systems Northern Powergrid recently hosted a roundtable discussion on whole energy systems. NETWORK / 5 / OCTOBER 2018 L E A D E R C O M M E N T C OMING SO ON ∙ The skills agenda ∙ Demand response ∙ Network asset performance YOUR NET W ORK Give the people what they want Let us know what projects, technologies and topics you want us to cover. Have your say Express your opinions and respond to content by blogging or writing for the magazine. A social Network Follow us on Twitter: @Network_mag Email the editor: alecpeachey@fav-house.com Alec Peachey alecpeachey@fav-house.com working with Lagoni to secure a • eet of 25 compressors and terminals, amid an increasing risk of cyber-attacks. Ultimately, communication is key if we're going to keep critical infrastructure like hospitals and energy networks safe from cyber threats, both now and in the