POWER UNITS WARNED OF CYBER THREAT

The Union power ministry has directed states to develop a crisis management plan for each power utility by the end of September to be able to face cyber threats. The power ministry has asked state governments to take the warning on cyber security put out by the National Security Council seriously.

With power being a part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, that hostile nations and cyber terrorists may attempt to disrupt and damage the computer network system governing electricity supply.

With increasing digitisation and automation of technology, cyber security has assumed greater importance.The ministry said the Computer Emergency Response Team had set up an institutional mechanism at the national level to improve cyber security.

The ministry has asked states to develop plant-level and utility-level plans in consultation with sectoral CERTs by September 31.