Ampyx Cyber Blog
The Intersection of Regulation & Resilience
CIP-015-1 INSM: A Practical Playbook
NERC CIP-015 makes east-west visibility inside the ESP mandatory. This playbook shows how to stand up INSM the right way through risk-based data feeds, ICS-aware anomaly detection, evaluation tied to incident response, and defensible evidence on a timeline to 10/1/2028 and beyond. Avoid common pitfalls and design now for the likely CIP-015-2 expansion.
Building Blocks of OT Security Monitoring: A Deep Dive for SOC Builders and MSSPs
Learn how to build scalable, OT-aware security monitoring using (free, no cost) open-source tools like Security Onion, Wazuh, Malcolm, and The Hive. Whether you're launching a SOC or growing your MSSP, this guide covers deployment models, costs, timelines, and training to get you started fast - and smart.
Cyber on Tap: NY's Water Utilities Face New Cyber Rulebook
New York has proposed the first mandatory cybersecurity regulation for water and wastewater systems, targeting utilities serving over 3,300 people. With requirements for vulnerability assessments, incident reporting, and executive oversight, this rule signals a shift toward enforceable cyber resilience and other states may soon follow.
Strategic Value of Self-Reporting in NERC CIP Compliance
Self-reporting in NERC CIP isn’t a weakness. It’s a sign of maturity. Proactive disclosures build regulatory trust, reinforce internal controls, and empower compliance teams to improve. When done right, self-reporting signals ownership, not failure, and positions your program as resilient, transparent, and credible.
Monitoring Meets Mandate: Will the Next CIP-015 Standard Deliver on FERC’s Vision?
FERC approved CIP-015-1, but also ordered NERC to expand it. The new SAR outlines how INSM requirements will extend beyond the ESP to include EACMS and PACS systems. This post breaks down how the SAR aligns with FERC’s directive, what still needs attention, and why internal visibility is no longer optional.
Texas SB 75: A Lone Star Model for Grid Resilience
Texas SB 75 establishes a first-of-its-kind Grid Security Commission to evaluate and enhance the resilience of the state’s electric grid and critical infrastructure. With a broad all-hazards focus, from cyber threats to EMPs, this bipartisan law signals Texas’ intent to lead on proactive, cross-sector grid security. Learn what’s required, what’s coming, and why it matters now.
Broad Scope, Big Impact: NY Mandates Cyber Rules for Public Sector
New York's new cybersecurity law, Chapter 177 of 2025 (S.7672A / A.6769A), introduces mandatory incident reporting, ransom payment disclosures, annual training, and data protection requirements for public-sector entities. Its broad definitions suggest applicability to both IT and OT systems, signaling a significant expansion in cybersecurity oversight for municipalities and public authorities.
Help Shape the Future of the NERC CIP Standards
NERC is asking for industry input on the future of CIP Standards. As part of its 2025 Work Plan, NERC has launched a survey to identify and prioritize emerging security risks to the Bulk Power System. The results will directly inform a roadmap for updating the CIP Standards to address today’s evolving threat landscape. What’s happening, why it matters, and how you can participate before the July 22 deadline.
FERC Quietly Closes The Books on RM20-12-000
FERC has officially closed Docket RM20-12-000, ending a five-year inquiry into potential gaps in the CIP Reliability Standards. While the docket is withdrawn, the underlying concerns—data security, anomaly detection, and coordinated cyberattacks—are being addressed through recent standards like CIP-015-1 (INSM) and proposed updates to CIP-003.
FERC Finalizes INSM Standard: CIP-015-1 and the New Visibility Mandate for the Grid
On June 26, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 907, approving the new NERC Reliability Standard CIP-015-1: Cyber Security – Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM). This marks a critical shift in how we approach cybersecurity within the Bulk Electric System. It also raises the bar significantly on what’s expected for visibility inside the network perimeter.
Canada’s Bill C‑8: A New Era for Cybersecurity Regulation
Canada is proposing sweeping changes to strengthen its cyber resilience through Bill C‑8. This two-part legislation enhances federal powers over telecom infrastructure and establishes enforceable cybersecurity obligations for critical infrastructure operators. Read our full breakdown of what it means, who it impacts, and what’s next in Parliament.
Automation and AI Risks in Long Duration Energy Storage Systems (LDES): Risk Mitigation and Regulatory Responsibilities
As Long Duration Energy Storage Systems (LDES) become essential to the future of grid resiliency and renewable integration, the infusion of automation and artificial intelligence (AI) into these technologies presents a range of strategic risks. These include cybersecurity vulnerabilities, operational uncertainties, automation-induced failures, and regulatory gaps. This white paper outlines the major categories of risk and identifies key government, regulatory, and standards bodies responsible for managing and mitigating these challenges.
NERC CIP-002 Standards Authorization Request - Project 2021-03
NERC’s CIP-002 Project 2021-03 (Phase 2) introduces key updates to improve clarity and consistency in identifying and classifying BES Cyber Systems. The revisions address long-standing ambiguities by clarifying functional entity roles, refining the treatment of communication protocol converters, revising Criterion 1.3 to establish objective criteria for high-impact control centers, and expanding Criterion 2.6 to include control centers operated by Generator Operators and Transmission Owners. These changes aim to eliminate gaps in protection, align risk-based categorizations across all entities, and support more consistent compliance with CIP standards.
Analysis of the June 6th, 2025 Executive Order on Cybersecurity
On June 6, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued a new Executive Order (EO) titled “Sustaining Select Efforts to Strengthen the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Amending Executive Orders 13694 and 14144.” This directive serves as a recalibration of federal cybersecurity strategy, signaling a shift away from prescriptive mandates toward more targeted, agency-specific authority and risk-informed investment in critical initiatives. It amends prior EOs while preserving core elements of federal cybersecurity policy.
Cyber Stress Testing: Strengthening Cyber Resilience in the EU Energy Sector
As cyber threats grow more complex, the EU energy sector is turning to stress testing to bolster its resilience. This post explores ENISA’s 2025 Cyber Stress Test Handbook and how it helps energy providers simulate real-world attacks, uncover vulnerabilities, and strengthen defenses in alignment with NIS2, CER, and the Cyber Solidarity Act.
The Human Factor: The Greatest Challenge in Organizational Cybersecurity
Despite significant investments in technical controls, frameworks, and compliance efforts such as NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, and NERC CIP standards, many organizations still struggle with implementing effective cybersecurity programs. The root of this challenge is not just technology or documentation — it's human behavior.
The Pillars of an Effective Incident Response Plan
A strong Incident Response Plan (IRP) is more than just a document—it’s a foundation built on key elements like asset inventory, network diagrams, logging, communication strategies, backups, and clear roles. In this blog, Dan Ricci, Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at Ampyx Cyber, breaks down the critical components every IRP needs to be resilient and effective in the face of cyber incidents.
Testimony Before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission: Protecting U.S. Energy Infrastructure from Strategic Risks
On April 24, 2025, Patrick Miller testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on the growing cybersecurity and supply chain risks facing U.S. energy infrastructure. My testimony focused on how Chinese state-aligned actors are embedding themselves within critical systems and why securing our grid is essential to preserving America's economic leadership, technological advancement, and national security.
Chinese-made technology in U.S. critical infrastructure: an interview with Patrick Miller
Patrick C. Miller of Ampyx Cyber testifies in front of the Senate U.S. - China Economic and Security Review Commission on Thursday, April 24 about the threat of Chinese-made technologies in U.S. critical infrastructure, including power systems and telecom. Here is a short interview with Patrick Miller about his testimony.
Four Years In: What NERC’s Cyber Security Incident Reporting Data Tells Us (and What It Doesn’t)
In the world of Bulk Electric System (BES) cybersecurity, signals of risk don’t always arrive with alarms blaring or malware lighting up dashboards. Sometimes, the signs are quieter—brute force login failures, odd port scans, or a sudden spike in account lockouts. The annual CIP-008-6 report, filed March 21, 2025 by NERC, shines a small but telling light on just such signals.