Mara Winn on protecting America’s critical infrastructure from cyberthreats

A first-of-its-kind 2016 cyberattack on Ukraine’s power grid was a wake-up call for countries around the world to shore up protection of vulnerable energy resources. Mara Winn, Deputy Director for Preparedness, Policy, and Risk Analysis at the Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), is in charge of acting on just that. From securing electric vehicles to safeguarding electric substations, Mara and her team help to ensure the resilience of the energy sector against cyber, physical and climate-based disruptions.

Mara takes a holistic approach to risk management, considering both physical and cyber threats. In the latest episode of WE’RE IN!, she cautions against focusing too much on the “flashy object of the day” and describes why she imbues diversity in risk management for the best outcomes.

Listen to hear more about: 

• Why early implementation of security measures in product development is necessary for distributed energy resources like solar, wind and battery technologies 
• How to educate investors, entrepreneurs and designers about understanding the full risk picture in business decisions
• The role of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and the Federal Power Act in defining federal and state responsibilities in the energy system