Utility Dive•10 days ago
CISA loses key employee behind early ransomware warnings
Key Takeaway
The loss of a critical CISA cybersecurity expert signals increased ransomware risk for energy utilities and large power consumers, potentially leading to higher operational costs and reduced grid reliability.
AI Summary
- •A key CISA employee, vital to a program that issued over 2,100 ransomware warnings in 2024 and prevented an estimated $9 billion in damages, has departed, leaving the program's future uncertain.
- •The program specifically targeted energy utilities and other critical infrastructure, meaning developers and large power consumers (e.g., datacenters) now face a heightened risk of cyberattacks and potential operational disruptions.
- •The potential weakening or discontinuation of CISA's proactive warning system could lead to increased cybersecurity expenditures, higher insurance costs, and greater vulnerability to grid instability, directly impacting energy reliability and pricing for large loads.
Topics
datacenterpolicy
Article Content
The future of a program that has helped prevent an estimated $9 billion in economic damages is now unclear. The agency sent more than 2,100 warnings in 2024, helping prevent ransomware attacks on energy utilities and others.