On January 19, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) released its multi-year blueprint outlining the office’s strategic priorities and actions. The blueprint take a multi-faceted and comprehensive approach, emphasizing the diverse nature of energy sector risks and threats; the importance of collaborative partnerships with states and industry; and the growing complexity of cyber-physical vulnerabilities in the energy sector. Importantly, CESER explicitly notes the inherent cybersecurity implications of all state energy policies and programs.
This blueprint is based on inputs and insights from CESER’s partners and includes five strategic goals and core objectives to align strategic investment, present areas of partnership, and measure collective progress into the future. The strategic goals and objectives outlined in the blueprint are as follows:
1. Advance cyber discovery, vulnerability assessment, and rapid risk mitigation.
2. Pursue game-changing R&D and technology transition.
3. Build capacity in the energy sector to understand risks, assess priorities, and identify cost- effective security and resilience improvements.
4. Enhance sector-wide situational awareness to inform decision-making in the energy sector.
5. Coordinate effective and efficient emergency response and recovery efforts.
For more information, please reach out to Campbell Delahoyde (cdelahoyde@naseo.org).