Webinar Alert: Energy Sector Learning to Speak a New and Secure Procurement Language

Hat tip to UTC's Nadya Bartol (Twitter @NadyaBartol) for the heads-up on this upcoming webinar to unveil a draft document as follows:

Title: Cybersecurity Procurement Language for Energy Delivery Systems

Project Description: This effort seeks to promote cybersecurity by design through procurement language tailored to the specific needs of the energy sector. Updated language for the energy sector can aid in addressing some of the evolving challenges by helping asset owners, operators, and suppliers establish a baseline of minimum cybersecurity requirements.

When: Monday, October 28, 2013 @ 3:00 - 4:00 PM EDT

Register: HERE

For more info on this effort: click HERE

POC: Eric Wagner at eric.wagner@utc.org

Webcast Alert: Establishing Security Baselines at Industrial Facilities

I love good baselines, and I'm not the only one. When famous jazz composer arranger Gil Evans (see Sketches of Spain) heard the early Police playing Walking on the Moon, he took time to personally compliment the stunned base player, Gordon Sumner aka Sting.

Now another baseline for you, less musical but more actionable, courtesy of the new ICS-ISAC:

• Title: Raising All Boats: Establishing Security Baselines at Industrial Facilities
• Date: Monday April 29th, 2013
• Time: 1:00-2:00pm USA Eastern Time
• Registration and more info here: http://ics-isac.org/events.html

Hope you can make it. Oh, and here's Miles for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KDQNoqKya0

California PUC to Host Cybersecurity Discussion

This is great because apparently you can participate in person in San Francisco (who wouldn't want to visit?) or in a remote fashion. Here are some of the details for  you:

WHEN: Feb. 27, 2013, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Opening remarks will be made by CPUC President Michael R. Peevey and the event will be moderated by Gary Ackerman, Executive Director, Western Power Trading Forum.

Panelists:

• Commissioner Terry Jarrett, Missouri Public Service Commission
• Tim Roxey, North America Energy Reliability Corporation
• Steven Dougherty, IBM
• James Sample, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

WHERE: CPUC Auditorium, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA, USA

VIRTUAL WHERE: www.californiaadmin.com/cpuc.shtml

You can submit questions on advance to thoughtleaders@cpuc.ca.gov.  Pretty nice, right? Wonder if other states or maybe countries will follow suit?

ICS-ISAC Webinar on Municipal Utility Control Systems Security

The ICS-ISAC (that's Industrial Control Systems Information Sharing and Analysis Center if you want it spelled out for you) has a webinar coming up soon if you want a bite-sized dose of control systems security best practice knowledge. As the site says:

ICS-ISAC Member Briefing Miki Calero, Chief Security Officer for the City of Columbus Ohio, will provide a first-hand assessment of the challenges and opportunities presented to those responsible for securing municipal infrastructures.

For me, this is interesting because in addition to getting more info out on control systems security, we'll also get to hear the municipal (or "muni") point of view. Muni's are everywhere and are often below the radar of the sector press, who like to focus on  the large investor owned utilities (IOUs). Yet muni's, responsible for medium sized cities and above, play a critical role in keeping the lights on for millions (maybe billions) around the world, especially at the distribution level.

The webinar will also include ICS-ISAC Chair Chris Blask brief ISAC members on new developments at the Center.

When: February 20, 1-2 pm ET

Here's a LINK to learn more and register.

Webcast Alert: NESCO on PKI for AMI, Smart Grid and ICS Networks

For those unfamiliar, NESCO = National Electric Sector Cybersecurity Organization (NESCO). And NESCO is running an upcoming webinar on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in the context of modernized (and modernizing) grid systems and networks, including control systems.

Here are the details you need:

• When: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ET
• Link to Register: Click HERE
• Associated NESCO PKI white paper is HERE

For more about NESCO, including how to get involved, click HERE

I'm getting a little tired of these all-capital HERE links, but let's do one more before calling it a night:

Click HERE to find out how New England fans feel about Tim Tebow joining the Jets today.

Webcast Alert: Smart Grid Security Blanket

This one looks like a good one, hosted by Jesse Berst's SmartGridNews and featuring experts from Duke Energy and Accenture. I'll be tuned in, and recommend you attend too if you can.

Date: 27 Jan 2011
Time: 4 pm ET
Click HERE for more details and HERE to register.

Image credit: Charles M. Schulz