More than 370 organizations from across North America recently took part in GridEx VIII, a large-scale exercise that tests how well the electricity sector can withstand and respond to combined cyber and physical attacks on the grid. Participation grew by nearly half compared to the previous GridEx two years earlier, with a particularly strong jump from small and medium utilities and increased involvement from Canadian partners. The scenario was designed to mirror realistic threats, pushing utilities, grid operators, and their partners to walk through emergency plans, validate communication channels, and stress-test how they coordinate during a fast-moving crisis affecting power generation, transmission, and distribution.

The exercise also drew in other critical infrastructure sectors such as natural gas, water and wastewater, and telecommunications, recognizing how tightly these systems depend on one another when the grid comes under pressure. Organizers highlighted that the broader and more diverse participation reflects growing awareness that advanced threat actors have already probed or breached energy networks in the region, sometimes dwelling undetected for long periods. Lessons learned from this latest round will be compiled in a public report expected next year, with the goal of strengthening cross-border, cross-industry collaboration and improving the resilience of the entire energy ecosystem against future large-scale cyber and physical disruptions.

Source: https://www.securityweek.com/over-370-organizations-take-part-in-gridex-viii-grid-security-exercise/