{"id":88609,"date":"2019-02-21T09:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T17:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloudblogs.microsoft.com\/microsoftsecure\/?p=88609"},"modified":"2023-05-15T23:12:46","modified_gmt":"2023-05-16T06:12:46","slug":"why-the-pipeline-cybersecurity-initiative-is-a-critical-step","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/security\/blog\/2019\/02\/21\/why-the-pipeline-cybersecurity-initiative-is-a-critical-step\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative is a critical step"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s well known by now that pipeline attacks<\/a> and attacks on utilities<\/a> of all kinds<\/a> have been an unfortunately well-trodden path by cyber-adversaries in numerous countries for a few years now. These types of attacks are not theoretical, and the damage done to date\u2014as well as the potential damage\u2014is significant.<\/p>\n

With this backdrop, it was encouraging to see a few months ago that that the U.S. Government was working in a coordinated fashion to push for a more coordinated effort around pipeline security. As part of the annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month each October, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) met with the Oil and Natural Gas Subsector Coordinating Council (ONG SCC) to discuss ongoing threats having to do with pipeline security, resulting in the Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to Hunton Andrews Kurth<\/a>, the Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative \u201cwill harness DHS\u2019s cybersecurity resources, DOE\u2019s energy sector expertise, and the Transportation Security Administration\u2019s (TSA) assessment of pipeline security to provide intelligence to natural gas companies and support ONG SCC’s efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n

And even though the Pipeline Cybersecurity Initiative is in its earliest stages, it\u2019s worth discussing the key items that it relates to and how it might impact better cybersecurity hygiene going forward across the industry as a whole:<\/p>\n