Course Code: cyexce
Duration: 7 hours
Prerequisites:

Training Program Overview

  • Program Title: Cyber Resilience for Energy Leaders
  • Target Audience: C-level executives at Alternergy (approx. 7-10 participants).
  • Duration & Format: One full day, proposed as two half-day sessions for 3.5 hours, starting at 1:00 PM Manila time on both days, to accommodate executive schedules. The entire engagement is framed as an interactive "Tabletop Exercise".
  • Key Objectives:
    • Enhance executive cybersecurity awareness and appreciation.
    • Visualize potential cybersecurity programs, especially for OT/SCADA devices.
    • Understand incident mitigation, response, and remediation.
    • Demonstrate the impact of OT system compromise.
    • Equip executives to justify cybersecurity investments.
Overview:

I. Introduction: The Cybersecurity Imperative for Energy Leaders

For Alternergy, a growing leader in renewable energy (wind, water, solar), cybersecurity is not just an IT concern but a critical business function. It directly impacts operational continuity, safety, financial stability, and reputation, especially given the increasing cyber threats to critical infrastructure and Operational Technology (OT) / SCADA systems. This training is designed to equip Alternergy's C-level executives with the strategic understanding and awareness needed to champion cyber resilience, particularly as the company expands. While a "tabletop exercise" was requested, this program integrates foundational knowledge with an interactive simulation to meet this request effectively, addressing current knowledge levels and the need to justify cybersecurity investments.

Course Outline:

Module 1: The Cyber Threat Landscape & Business Impact (Half-Day 1, Afternoon Session - Manila Time)

This module builds foundational understanding of the cyber threats relevant to Alternergy and their potential business consequences.

  • Topic 1.1: Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Executives: Decoding the Jargon
    • Core concepts (cyber attack, CIA triad, authentication, etc.) relevant to business strategy.
  • Topic 1.2: The Energy Sector Under Siege: Alternergy's Unique Risk Profile
    • Why the energy sector, especially OT/SCADA in renewables, is a prime target.
    • IT/OT convergence risks; vulnerabilities in Industrial Control Systems (ICS).
    • Statistics on attacks in the energy/industrial sector.
  • Topic 1.3: Adversary Spotlight: Who Targets Energy Infrastructure and Why?
    • Types of threat actors (state-sponsored, criminal groups, hacktivists, insiders) and their motivations in the energy context.
  • Topic 1.4: Anatomy of an Attack: Common Tactics Targeting the Energy Sector
    • Prevalent attack vectors (phishing, ransomware, malware, DDoS, vulnerability exploits).
    • Typical phases of a cyber attack.
  • Topic 1.5: The Real Cost of a Breach: Quantifying Financial, Operational, Reputational, and Regulatory Impacts
    • Addressing the need for "risk quantification".
    • Breakdown of costs: financial (avg. breach costs in energy sector), operational disruption (OT downtime impact), reputational damage (loss of trust, stock impact), and regulatory fines (Philippines Data Privacy Act context).
    • Summary table of potential costs.

Module 2: Executive Action & Crisis Response Simulation (Half-Day 2, Afternoon Session - Manila Time)

This module focuses on defensive strategies, executive roles, and culminates in an interactive crisis simulation.

  • Topic 2.1: Pillars of Cyber Defense: Key Principles and Strategic Controls
    • Fundamental defensive strategies (defense-in-depth, network segmentation (IT/OT), access control, patch management, monitoring, incident response planning, user training).
  • Topic 2.2: The Executive's Mandate: Cybersecurity Governance, Risk Management, and Culture
    • Leadership's role: setting tone, governance, integrating cyber risk into enterprise risk, resource allocation, fostering security culture.
  • Topic 2.3: Preparing for the Inevitable: Introduction to Cyber Incident Response
    • High-level overview of the incident response lifecycle (Preparation, Identification, Containment, Eradication, Recovery, Lessons Learned).
  • Topic 2.4: Interactive Tabletop Exercise: Navigating an Energy Sector Cyber Crisis
    • Simulated crisis tailored to Alternergy (e.g., attack on wind, solar, or hydro OT systems).
    • Focus on executive decision-making, communication, and business continuity under pressure.
    • Facilitated by Emin Caliskan, incorporating realistic injects.
  • Topic 2.5: Debrief & Charting the Path Forward: Action Planning for Enhanced Cyber Resilience
    • Consolidate learnings from the exercise.
    • Identify key areas for improvement and collaboratively outline 3-5 high-priority actionable initiatives for Alternergy leadership.

4. Key Takeaways for Alternergy Leadership

  • Cybersecurity is a core business imperative, not just an IT issue.
  • Executive leadership and a strong security culture are paramount.
  • The threat landscape, especially for OT in the energy sector, is real and evolving.
  • Proactive preparedness (defenses, incident response plans, training) is crucial.
  • Cybersecurity is an ongoing journey requiring continuous commitment and adaptation.

5. Strategic Next Steps (Illustrative)

Based on the training debrief, potential action items could include:

  • Formalizing a comprehensive Cyber Incident Response Plan (with OT focus).
  • Conducting a specialized OT-focused Risk Assessment.
  • Investing in organization-wide cybersecurity awareness training.
  • Strengthening third-party risk management.
  • Establishing a Cybersecurity Steering Committee with executive oversight.

This program aims to provide Alternergy’s leadership with the insights and impetus to significantly enhance the organization's cyber resilience.