GlobalData warns energy companies to strengthen OT cybersecurity amid rising supply chain risks

In brief

GlobalData has urged energy companies to increase cybersecurity investment as digitalisation, grid modernisation and distributed energy resources create more connections across critical infrastructure. The firm warns that attacks on energy systems can interrupt essential services, destabilise national economies and cause substantial financial damage, while geopolitical tensions are increasing the threat of cyber espionage. A central concern is the sector’s dependence on extensive supplier and vendor networks, because a weakness in shared software or a third-party system can spread into both information technology and operational technology environments.

The report recommends stronger vendor governance through continuous monitoring, security standards, network segmentation, least-privilege access, audits and coordinated incident-response plans. GlobalData also notes that the growing convergence of IT and OT connects legacy equipment with modern grid technologies, expanding the number of pathways through which a breach could disrupt physical operations. Generative AI is making attacks faster and more sophisticated, so oil and gas companies should use specialised services offering rapid response and operational monitoring, while equipment providers should strengthen secure development, testing and certification practices.

Source: Industrial Cyber

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