Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER)’s Post

At CESER, a key pillar of our work includes helping utilities and energy industry partners prepare for, mitigate, and respond to disasters, regardless of the type. We’re proud to support resilience efforts across the nation, including developing resources like this one from the National Emergency Management Association, Energy Resilience Best Practices for Emergency Management Agencies. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGTfwPVn #DisasterResilienceMonth

Did you know? CESER programs and activities are a critical part of a secure energy future. In a new fact sheet, the Biden-Harris Administration has identified cyber-enabled technologies key to the near-term energy transition under national priorities to enhance the digital ecosystem: CESER and its energy sector partners are supporting these priorities through a number of programs and activities that build stakeholder community, produce cutting-edge research and development, support swift and resilient deployment, manage risk to relevant supply chains, build workforce capability, and mitigate systemic risk. Learn more about CESER activities that support a renewed national focus, including the Energy Threat Analysis Center (ETAC), Cybersecurity Baselines for Distribution and Distributed Energy Resources, cybersecurity supply chain principles, workforce development programs like the Operational Technology Defender Fellowship, and exercises like the Liberty Eclipse full scale exercise: https://lnkd.in/ebf48Y3h

It’s officially hurricane season, but CESER has been preparing emergency responders for months to be able to support energy restoration efforts when disasters strike. How? Read our latest blog to learn about the work leading up to an energy emergency: https://lnkd.in/epej_d5s

This summer, Jhovanni Loeza, a senior at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, came to CESER as an intern to support work at the nexus between #cyber attacks and natural disasters. Read the latest blog about the impact of his work and his #internship experience.

Industry partners: Are you ready to bolster your energy security plans? Check out CESER’s Energy Security Planning Resource Hub, where you can find resources like: - State Energy Security Plans - DOE Energy Emergency Response Playbook - Assessment of Capabilities in Energy Security (ACES) Tool And more! Find what you need here: https://lnkd.in/eg2qXpMr

#ICYMI: CESER and the DOE Grid Deployment Office hosted a Risk Cohorts Workshop earlier this summer where state participants joined in a Cyber and Physical Security Game, immersing themselves in a fictional scenario playing an adversary attempting to attack critical energy infrastructure, then switching roles to play a grid defender. The activity prompted new thinking around common and emerging threats and discussions around mitigation measures to protect energy infrastructure against the breadth of possible attacks. Thanks to our partners who made these sessions a success! NASEO - National Association of State Energy Officials, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

CESER’s Principal Deputy Director Lili Colon was pleased to participate in the DOE's Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) Cybersecurity and Technology Innovation Conference last week! She joined other experts on stage in a panel discussion, “Future-Proofing Our Workforce: Nurturing Cyber Talent for Tomorrow,” to share strategies for attracting, training, and retaining a skilled cyber workforce. #DOEInnovates24 

CESER Director Puesh Kumar recently briefed leaders from co-op, municipal, and small investor-owned utilities on security issues and challenges facing the energy sector as part of the Rural and Municipal Utility Cybersecurity (RMUC) Program. The BIL-funded RMUC Program is making investments in utilities to harden their systems and providing cybersecurity technical assistance and training to the energy workforce. To learn more, please visit https://lnkd.in/e2xqHbxQ  

Check it out: the latest winners of the American-Made Digitizing Utilities prize, totaling over $2 million, were announced. The 11 projects in Round 2 support new tools and data analytics to mitigate risks to U.S. critical infrastructure, improve grid operations, and accelerate technology integration.  DOE’s Office of Electricity funded nine projects in Track 1 focused on digitization and data management, and CESER funded two projects in Track 2 aimed at addressing cybersecurity threats to energy infrastructure.   Read more about the winners here: https://lnkd.in/djHnmpB6

📰 Hot off the press! The latest edition of CESER Connections is live and full of news from our office, including:     - New Report Evaluates Clean Energy Cybersecurity Technology - Applications Open for DOE's OT Defender Fellowship 2025 Cohort - 2024 CyberForce Conquer the Hill Reign Competition Results   Read the full edition below. ⬇️