Senate approves bill seeking low-tech solutions to thwart grid hackers
The U.S. Senate approved a bill that seeks to take a low-tech approach to thwart hackers from accessing the grid through holes in digital software systems.
The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act will examine ways to replace automated systems with low-tech solutions, like manual procedures controlled by human operators.
“As our world grows more and more connected, we have before us both new opportunities and new threats,” Sen. Angus King (I-ME), said “Our connectivity is a strength that, if left unprotected, can be exploited as a weakness. This bill takes vital steps to improve our defenses, so the energy grid that powers our lives is not open to devastating attacks launched from across the globe. It’s bipartisan, it’s commonsense, and it’s necessary – I’m glad that the Senate has advanced this important legislation.”
King, co-chair of the Senate Cyberspace Solarium Commission, introduced the bill along with Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID).
This approach would make cyber-attacks much more difficult, the lawmakers said. With this bill, even the most sophisticated hackers would have to touch the equipment to access the grid physically.
The legislation was inspired in part by the nation of Ukraine, which was attacked in 2015 but was able to keep the grid running because it relies on manual technology to operate its grid. This bill looks to strategically use “retro” technology to isolate the grid’s most critical control systems.
Specifically, the legislation would establish a two-year pilot program within the National Laboratories to identify new classes of security vulnerabilities and test technology – like analog devices – to thwart cyber-attacks.
It would also establish a working group to develop a national cyber-informed strategy to isolate the energy grid from attacks. The working group would include federal government agencies, the energy industry, a state or regional energy agency, the National Laboratories, and other relevant groups.
The Secretary of Energy would be required to submit a report to Congress describing the results of the program and assessing the feasibility of the techniques considered.
The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Mike Crapo (R-ID). A companion bill has been introduced in the House by Reps Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and John Carter (R-TX).
