Serhiy Demedyuk: Cybersecurity today is a vital factor in the existence of the energy industry

On September 29-30, this year, a two-day field meeting (within the framework of the Energy CyberCon 2021 conference) of the Working Group on Cyber protection of Critical Energy Infrastructure Entities of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine is underway in Odesa.

Opening the meeting, Deputy Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Serhiy Demedyuk noted that cybersecurity today is a vital factor in the existence of the energy sector. “Today, it is critical not only to introduce the latest energy efficiency technologies but also to protect the energy system from threats in cyberspace”, - he said.

The Deputy NSDC Secretary expressed his conviction in the need to strengthen the coordination of actions of public and private entities in the energy sector in ensuring reliable cybersecurity. “We must take into account all existing threats and develop a roadmap for joint coordination of actions, response methods applicable to both the public and private sectors”, - he said.

According to Mr. Demedyuk, the National Coordination Center for Cybersecurity at the NSDC of Ukraine is ready to provide the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine with its capabilities to implement cybersecurity measures in the energy sector at the initial stage.

“The NCCC is ready to provide its capabilities and means for coordination until the cyber defense center under the Ministry of Energy is launched”, - he said.

The participants of the meeting plan to discuss and approve the Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of cybersecurity in the energy sector of Ukraine for 2022-2024. The best projects for the protection of the energy sector from leading manufacturers and vendors of solutions in the field of digitalization and cybersecurity will also be presented.

The members of the Working Group will exchange views on the place of sectoral cybersecurity in the organizational and technical model of national cybersecurity, cybersecurity standards in the energy sector, and legislation in the field of critical infrastructure; they will also discuss the relevant international experience.

People’s deputies of Ukraine, experts of the NSDC Staff, representatives of the Ministry of Energy, PJSC “NEC” Ukrenergo” are taking part in the event.

In particular, Head of the NCCC Support Service of the NSDC Staff Serhiy Prokopenko will present the Cybersecurity Strategy of Ukraine (the decision of the NSDC of Ukraine of May 14, 2021 “On Cybersecurity Strategy of Ukraine” was enacted by the Presidential Decree of August 26, 2021, № 447).