Centre Government issues cyber-security guidelines for Power sector
Recently, the Ministry of Power has issued guidelines for cyber security in the power sector.
These guidelines will lay down the necessary actions for cyber security preparedness in various utilities in the power sector, so as to enhance the level of cyber security preparedness for the power sector.
Earlier, the Ministry of Power had constituted 6 field based Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) to ensure cyber security in the Indian power sector.
Salient features:
Applicability:
- These guidelines will apply to all responsible entities (transmission and generation units etc.) as well as system integrators, equipment manufacturers, suppliers/vendors, service providers and IT hardware and software original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s).
- These guidelines will form the cyber assurance framework, Strengthen regulatory framework, establish mechanisms for early warning of security threats, provide security to remote operation services, assist in vulnerability management and response against security threats, etc.
- These guidelines mandate mandatory ICT based procurement of trusted products from specified trusted sources. In addition, they also make it necessary to test products for malware/hardware Trojans before deploying them.
- Power and energy sector, telecommunications, banking and finance etc. are considered part of the country’s critical infrastructure (CI).
- CI is defined as the physical and cyber-based system required for the minimum running of the economy and government. Anyone reaching it can affect the national security and economic and social welfare of the country.
Source – The Hindu
