The Department of Energy’s cybersecurity and technology innovation conference explores developments and challenges in information security, technology innovation, workforce development and critical infrastructure protection.
Greg says the importance of collaboration can’t be understated — whether that’s between agencies or between OnPoint and innovative product companies to deliver the best tools and services for our federal customers.
Information Technology (IT)
Information technology (IT) is a broad field that encompasses all hardware and software used to create, store, transmit, display and manipulate data and information. It is also known as computer information systems or CIS and is part of the larger field of computer science.
IT governance is the combination of policies and processes to ensure IT systems run smoothly and in line with an organization’s needs. IT operations, the daily work of an IT department, include providing tech support and security testing as well as network maintenance and device management.
The second round of the DOE-NREL Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator program is now open to applicants with technologies that secure renewable energy assets and reduce risks to energy systems. Join Elastic at the conference to learn more about the opportunities available. Attendees will hear from thought leaders across the DOE enterprise, federal interagency, academia and international partners as well as private industry. This will be a great opportunity to share tools, information management and cybersecurity solutions to help address our nation’s challenges.
Operational Technology (OT)
OT refers to hardware and software that keeps things like industrial equipment, manufacturing systems, and transportation systems running. It exists much longer than IT or information technology and has a unique set of challenges that come with it.
Unlike IT, where a system might work the same across many infrastructures, OT is created to be a custom fit for specific industries and uses. Often, it must run 24/7 as any downtime can have devastating effects.
This is why OT security requires specialized tools to manage access to a network. An OT security platform that monitors user and asset behavior and applies least-privilege principles and other Zero Trust security strategies can offer protection from the specific threats facing OT. The conference also provided an opportunity for attendees to discuss the best approaches to securing OT and other data-driven technologies with experts in the field. The solutions presented by the exhibitors were aligned with the Secretary’s priorities of combating climate change, creating clean energy union jobs and advancing energy justice.
Cyber Workforce
A national workforce is a critical component of cybersecurity, yet federal leaders face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining cyber talent. To do so, they must promote growth of the pool itself and invest in measures to support diversity, foster innovation and career-broadening experiences, and ensure that federal jobs are well-paying and rewarding.
The federal government must also implement a new workforce strategy to help align resources to aspirations and drive innovation and cyber priorities in line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s goals of combating climate crisis, creating clean energy union jobs, and promoting energy justice. NETL experts will discuss the latest developments and challenges in these areas at the 2023 Department of Energy Cybersecurity and Technology Innovation Conference in Minneapolis.
The conference will explore innovative approaches to tackling complex issues such as data analytics, machine learning, and advanced visualization, and provide the opportunity for attendees to learn from their peers and colleagues. Attendees can expect to leave the conference with new skills, insights, and knowledge that they will be able to apply in their own agencies.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
This event will explore the latest advancements and problems in cybersecurity, technological innovation, workforce development, and critical infrastructure protection. Top thought leaders from the DOE enterprise, federal interagency, academia, international partners, and private industry will participate in thoughtful conversations about cybersecurity, modernizing IT and OT environments and solutions, sharing tools, data management, technology, and best practices with the energy industry, and developing technical solutions to meet national challenges.
Chad Lloyd is a Cybersecurity Architecture Team Leader at Schneider Electric and has held numerous positions including ICS Security Manager, Director of IT for Power Industries, and Consultant delivering large multiyear OT and SCADA cybersecurity programs at utility organizations. He is also a certified CISSP and CEH and has extensive hands-on experience protecting industrial environments and securing control systems. He has been a key participant in the development of industry standards and government-wide initiatives for critical infrastructure resiliency. His unique background in security leadership, management, forensics, incident response, product evaluation and research, and teaching produces holistic approaches to address complex, tactical and strategic goals.
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