– Auburn University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory partnering to establish Southeast Region Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (SERC3)
– SERC3 focused on research, operations, and workforce development to protect the power grid from cyber threats
– Growing landscape of insidious cyber threats facing the U.S. energy sector, with a need for public-private collaboration and R&D initiatives like SERC3
Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has received a $10 million Department of Energy grant to establish the Southeast Region Cybersecurity Collaboration Center (SERC3), focusing on grid protection. The center will bring together experts from different sectors to develop solutions to protect the nation’s power grid. They plan to run experiments with industry partners and establish research labs.
One of SERC3’s key missions is to develop the workforce and skills needed in cybersecurity. They will include a mock utility command center for real-time cyber defense training. This initiative aims to enhance cybersecurity and resilience in the power sector, a critical industry vulnerable to cyberattacks. Public-private collaborations are essential in ensuring cyber resilience in the sector.
With the increase in cyber threats globally, efforts like SERC3 are crucial. Regional partnerships like this are essential for advancing grid cybersecurity and addressing evolving threats. The involvement of industry, national laboratories, academia, and governments is crucial in combating malicious actors targeting critical infrastructure like the energy sector. Lessons learned from exercises like GridEx VII emphasize the need for improved communication, coordination, and operational frameworks to address cyber and physical attacks effectively.