Ampyx Cyber Blog
The Intersection of Regulation & Resilience
CIP-014-4 Approved: The New Physical Security Risk Assessment and the 2028 Clock
FERC approved Reliability Standard CIP-014-4 on September 10, 2026 in Docket No. RD26-9-000, and the version number understates the change. CIP-014-3 had six requirements. CIP-014-4 has ten, three of them new. The risk assessment now needs a documented methodology, mandatory dynamic simulations, and a neighboring substation in the model. All of it has to be finished by October 1, 2028.
Funded, Not Secured: The April 20 DPA Determinations & the Bulk Electric System
Two April 20 Defense Production Act determinations expand domestic capacity for grid components and large-scale energy infrastructure. Neither addresses cybersecurity. For the electric sector, NERC CIP and Order 693 standards still apply. A practitioner's view of intersections with CIP-013, CIP-014, PRC, FAC, and TPL, and why domestic capacity is not domestic assurance.
From Firefighting to Foresight: Building CIP Programs for the Future Power Grid
NERC calls grid reliability a “five-alarm fire.” With data centers, AI, and extreme weather straining capacity, CIP programs must evolve from reactive compliance to proactive resilience. This post outlines how utilities can strengthen controls, close documentation gaps, and build CIP programs ready for the future grid.