Broader threat forces US energy sector to look harder at cyber defenses

The coronavirus pandemic has rapidly accelerated the digitization of US energy companies, moving operational technology and corporate networks into workers' homes. Leo Simonovich, vice president and global head of industrial cyber and digital security at Siemens Energy, says this has heightened the need for oil, gas and power companies to increase their cyber defenses. With more point-to-point connections as a result of remote working, energy companies face the potential for more cyberattacks. We ask Simonovich about the cybersecurity implications of actions at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and how the energy transition and use of new technologies could compound cyber risks across the energy system. Stick around for the Market Minute, a look at near-term oil market drivers with Platts editor Chris van Moessner.