Cyberattacks of the grid are increasing exponentially and alarm bells are ringing more frequently across the energy industry for more help. This week, UCONN Today shared that the University of Connecticut (UCONN) has formalized a way to bring university-level researchers, industry, and government together to help address this critical issue. In May, UCONN will open its Northeast University Cybersecurity Center for Advanced and Resilient Energy Delivery (CyberCARED) buoyed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s $2.5 million support over the next couple of years. Industry partners have committed an additional $1.1 million as well.

There will be several universities joining the Center to help with research and support, including: the University of Rhode Island, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Vermont, Central Connecticut State University, and New York University. Industry partners include organizations like Eversource Energy, Avangrid, and the National Renewable Energy Lab.

Beyond research, the CyberCARED will provide education, continuing education, training programs, and the development of new tools for the energy sector specific to the northeast’s electric system and infrastructure network. 

UCONN Today quotes Katie Dykes, state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Commissioner, saying, “The cybersecurity center led by UConn is a welcome addition to these efforts and will significantly increase our ability to maintain a secure grid while adding smart technologies, which help optimize grid performance at the lowest possible cost.”

The nature of the grid is changing, and the threat landscape is wider than ever before. It will take a series of efforts like this across the U.S. to ensure stability and enhance security of our most critical pieces of infrastructure.