New law means tighter power plant security
Anne Broache writes in C|Net News:
U.S. power plants may have to tighten security against malicious hackers bent on wreaking havoc, according to a new federal law.
Part of the 1,724-page energy bill that President Bush signed last week calls for federal bureaucrats to create an "electric reliability organization" that would draft mandatory standards--including cybersecurity guidelines--for electric power system operations.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, would be tasked with setting standards to prevent system instability or failures that can be tied to a "sudden disturbance, including a cybersecurity incident." FERC may impose penalties for violations, and has 180 days to begin the process of certifying the reliability organization.
The new regulations come about three months after a Government Accountability Office report cited "a general consensus--and increasing concern" among officials that systems controlling utility infrastructures face real threats of attack.
posted by Fergie @ 8/16/2005 04:18:00 PM
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