Glossary: Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

SCADA Security

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems manage industrial processes across utilities and energy. SCADA security focuses on protecting controllers, sensors, communications, and human-machine interfaces from cyberattacks. Practices include network segmentation, strong authentication, secure remote access, monitoring, and incident response designed for OT environments.

NERC-CIP Compliance

North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC-CIP) is a set of cybersecurity standards for bulk electric systems. It addresses asset identification, security management controls, personnel training, incident reporting, and recovery planning. Utilities implement controls across IT and OT to reduce risk and ensure reliable operations.

Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

The cybersecurity talent shortage reflects the global gap between demand and supply for experienced professionals. Staff augmentation with vetted cybersecurity experts helps critical infrastructure organizations meet immediate needs while controlling cost. Hybrid cybersecurity teams combine local context with global coverage to accelerate delivery.

Zero-Trust Architecture

Zero-trust architecture shifts security from perimeter-based to identity-centric, verifying every connection. It relies on IAM, policy-based access, microsegmentation, and continuous monitoring. For utilities and energy, ZTA protects SCADA and ICS while enabling secure cloud adoption and remote operations.

Incident Response Team

An incident response team coordinates the lifecycle of cyber incidents: detection, triage, containment, forensics, recovery, and post-incident review. Teams operate with predefined playbooks, SLAs, and communication protocols. In critical infrastructure, IR teams must handle OT-specific constraints and maintain safety.

Cloud Security Solutions

Cloud security solutions include identity and access controls, workload protection, encryption, logging, continuous compliance, and secure connectivity across clouds. For hybrid environments, consistent policies and telemetry enable resilience and incident visibility.