energy

Secure and resilient operation of energy organisations

Energy companies operate technologically complex environments whose reliability affects households, businesses, public institutions and other parts of critical infrastructure. The generation, distribution and management of energy supplies depend on the availability of operational technologies, information systems, communication networks, data and services provided by external partners.

Energy environments often include geographically dispersed facilities, equipment with long lifecycles, specialised control systems and technologies with limited update options. Increasing connectivity between operational and enterprise systems creates new opportunities for management and automation, but also introduces additional security and operational dependencies.

We help energy organisations manage cybersecurity, technological, operational and regulatory risks as an interconnected whole. Our services include cybersecurity, compliance, sensitive information protection, risk management, information technology and digital transformation.

We design solutions with consideration for the nature of operations, the technologies used, available professional resources and the need to maintain the stability and continuity of essential services.

Cybersecurity of energy environments

Energy organisations use enterprise information systems, communication infrastructure, operational applications, control technologies, remote facilities and systems operated by external suppliers. Compromise of any of these areas may affect not only data availability, but also the ability to manage operations and respond to emergencies.

We conduct security management audits focused on the actual effectiveness of technical, organisational and procedural measures. We assess system administration, access management, privileged accounts, remote connections, the allocation of responsibilities, technology updates and the organisation’s readiness to respond to cyber incidents.

Vulnerability assessments combine automated tools with expert manual verification of identified weaknesses. We focus on servers, communication infrastructure, enterprise applications, endpoint devices and other parts of the environment whose compromise could affect operations or the availability of important services.

We can also test organisational resilience through controlled simulations of cyberattacks. Red Team Operations assess technological security, the ability to detect an attack, employee response and the effectiveness of established security processes.

The outcome is an overview of actual weaknesses and practical recommendations prioritised according to risk, potential operational impact and the complexity of remediation.

Security of operational and control technologies

Operational technologies in the energy sector are designed primarily for stability, precision and long service life. Some equipment was originally intended for isolated operation but has gradually been connected to enterprise systems, central monitoring, remote administration or systems operated by external partners.

We help organisations identify dependencies between information systems, communication networks and operational technologies. We assess network segmentation, access management, asset inventories, technical accounts, remote maintenance and communication between individual parts of the infrastructure.

Particular attention is given to technologies whose shutdown, update or replacement requires complex operational coordination. Recommended measures must therefore respect limited maintenance windows, continuous-availability requirements, dependence on specialised suppliers and the risks associated with unplanned changes.

The objective is to create a proportionate and sustainable system of protection that reduces security risks without disproportionate interference in operational stability.

Risk management and continuity of energy services

Risks in the energy sector cannot be assessed solely according to the technical probability of an incident. It is also necessary to consider possible impacts on generation, distribution, employee safety, the environment, contractual obligations and the organisation’s ability to fulfil operational and regulatory duties.

We help organisations identify and classify assets, evaluate threats and vulnerabilities and establish risk-management priorities. We assess cybersecurity, technological, operational, supplier, regulatory, financial and project risks and their possible interdependencies.

A Business Impact Analysis identifies critical processes, their technological, personnel, communication and supplier dependencies and the maximum acceptable duration of operational disruption.

Based on the results, we design Business Continuity Management and Disaster Recovery systems. We prepare responsibilities, communication procedures, recovery scenarios and practical plans for situations such as cyberattacks, infrastructure outages, data loss, the unavailability of a control system, communication failures or the failure of a major supplier.

Continuity plans must reflect the actual organisation of operations and remain usable during extensive events affecting multiple systems, locations or external partners simultaneously. We therefore also support their regular testing, evaluation and updating.

Readiness for security and operational incidents

A rapid and coordinated response can significantly reduce the effect of an incident on the operations of an energy organisation. Unclear responsibilities, missing contacts, inadequate communication or unprepared scenarios may prolong recovery and increase the extent of the damage.

We help organisations establish processes for identifying, reporting, evaluating and managing security incidents. We define roles, responsibilities, escalation procedures, decision-making arrangements and communication between technical teams, operational facilities, management and external partners.

Readiness can be tested through model situations, tabletop exercises and practical testing of selected scenarios. The organisation can therefore verify whether communication channels, contacts, decision-making authority and recovery procedures are genuinely usable.

The objective is to create an effective incident-response system supporting rapid decisions, impact reduction and the secure restoration of operations.

Supplier risk management

Energy organisations depend on suppliers of technologies, software, infrastructure, communication services, maintenance, operational support and specialised professional activities. Some suppliers may have remote access to critical systems or provide services without which operations cannot be sustained over the long term.

We help organisations identify critical suppliers and assess risks associated with their services. We review access permissions, remote support arrangements, the allocation of responsibilities, security requirements, contractual conditions and the supplier’s readiness to respond to an incident or outage.

Supplier risk management is integrated with the organisation’s overall risk-management system. This makes it possible to distinguish ordinary business partners from suppliers whose failure could significantly affect operations, security or the availability of energy services.

The result is a more transparent overview of technological and operational dependencies and the ability to focus controls on services with the greatest impact on the organisation.

Protection of sensitive and operational information

Energy organisations work with technical documentation, operational data, infrastructure information, project documentation and information concerning customers, employees, suppliers and contractual relationships.

This information may be stored in enterprise applications, databases, operational systems, document repositories, email communication and other structured and unstructured sources. Some of it is regularly shared with external partners, designers, service providers and technology suppliers.

We help organisations identify and classify sensitive information and establish rules for its processing, storage, sharing, archiving and secure disposal. We review access permissions, information-transfer methods and risks associated with unauthorised disclosure, modification, loss or theft.

We design technical, procedural and organisational measures corresponding to the actual value of the information and the potential impact of its compromise. This may include a data loss prevention strategy, information lifecycle management or secure methods for sharing documentation with external partners.

The objective is to ensure the availability of necessary information for operations and decision-making while reducing the risk of misuse or loss.

Compliance and regulatory readiness

Energy organisations must comply with a combination of legislative, regulatory, contractual and internal requirements. These obligations apply to cybersecurity, risk management, operational continuity, information protection, supplier relationships and the way technological environments are governed.

We assess the current state and help organisations determine which requirements apply to their activities and infrastructure. We identify gaps and recommend specific measures required to achieve and maintain compliance.

We support the implementation of processes, responsibilities, control mechanisms, internal policies and related documentation. We also help prepare for internal and external audits and verify whether implemented measures operate effectively in everyday practice.

We connect compliance with the management of risks, technologies, incidents and suppliers. Regulatory requirements are therefore not addressed solely as an administrative agenda, but as part of the organisation’s overall management system.

IT audit and strategy

Information technology supports operational management, business processes, asset management, communication, customer services, planning and data evaluation. As environments gradually expand, however, they may develop complex dependencies, technical debt and applications with limited support or difficult integration.

We conduct IT audits focused on operational risks, performance, security and the long-term sustainability of existing solutions. We assess applications, infrastructure, data centres, cloud services, communication environments, endpoint devices and the way IT services are delivered.

We help organisations prepare an IT strategy and a realistic plan for further development. We design a target enterprise architecture connecting processes, applications, data and technology platforms.

This may also include establishing an IT operating model, defining the responsibilities of internal teams and external partners and implementing processes for more effective management of services, changes and technology projects.

The result is a clearer environment, better-informed investment decisions and improved control over technological and supplier dependencies.

Digital transformation of operational and administrative processes

Digital transformation in the energy sector includes the modernisation of operational management, infrastructure management, maintenance, technical documentation, customer processes, data evaluation and internal approval procedures.

We help organisations evaluate the state of their application environment and determine which processes should be modernised, automated or more effectively connected through data. We design digital and integration platforms enabling secure information exchange between systems, facilities and external partners.

We support the digitalisation of document and approval processes, the implementation of DMS and ECM solutions and the establishment of data governance rules. The objective is to ensure that employees and systems work with accurate, current and trustworthy information.

New solutions are designed with consideration for integration into the existing environment, operational sustainability, security and the organisation’s ability to manage the technologies over the long term.

Management of technology and transformation projects

The modernisation of information or operational environments can significantly affect the functioning of an energy organisation. An inadequately prepared specification, unsuitable technologies or unclear responsibilities may result in increased costs, project delays and new operational or security risks.

We help prepare functional and technical specifications, procurement documentation and tender procedures for information systems and technological solutions. We provide professional support when evaluating bids, selecting suppliers and reviewing proposed solutions.

During implementation, we provide project management and expert technical supervision. We monitor compliance with requirements, architectural consistency, security parameters, integration with existing systems and alignment with the organisation’s long-term objectives.

We also help establish the transition of the solution into operation, responsibilities for its management and the conditions of ongoing support so that the organisation retains control over important technologies and services.

Comprehensive support for energy organisations

Cybersecurity, operational continuity, risk management, IT and digital transformation cannot be addressed separately in the energy sector. Connecting a new operational technology may create a security risk, changing a supplier may affect service continuity and a transformation project may alter the way sensitive information is protected.

Comsec combines expertise from individual areas and develops solutions corresponding to the size of the organisation, the nature of its infrastructure, the technologies used and actual operational requirements.

Cooperation may include a one-off assessment of a selected area, resolution of a specific security or technological issue, support for a modernisation project or long-term professional cooperation.