NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - 44
In Compliance
CONNECTED & VULNERABLE
NEC code-making panels are discussing
ways that the code could address the
far-ranging problem of cybersecurity.
GETTY IMAGES
NFPA 70 + 70E
Electrical Safety
NEC, connectivity, and the
problem of cybersecurity
By Derek Vigstol
s our lives become
A
increasingly connected
and complex, cybersecurity has become a major
concern. It can be difficult to carry out even the simplest tasks,
like checking emails or using the
Internet, without having cybersecurity
at the forefront of our thoughts.
Ransomware, malware, and other forms
of cyberattacks lurk around every corner
of our electronic worlds. As the electrical infrastructure grows in connectivity,
these attacks become a very real threat
to the electrical grid and businesses
everywhere-imagine hackers gaining
access to our service equipment and
holding it hostage until we pay a
ransom. It seems like something to drive
the plot of a science-fiction novel, but
it's happening as we speak.
Recently, the code-making panels
for NFPA 70®, National Electrical
Code® (NEC®), convened for the firstdraft meetings for the 2023 edition of
the code. Many of the panels had to
review multiple public inputs involving
the idea of assessing the cyberattack
vulnerability of systems that have a
connection to the network, and providing certification that these systems
have been designed to handle any
attack. This generated a great deal of
discussion during the meeting. It also
raises the question whether the NEC
is the right place for requiring these
types of cybersecurity measures. While
we won't know the results until later
next year when the revision cycle is
complete, we can look at what this
might mean for installing and inspecting electrical equipment connected to
a network.
The NEC exists to protect people and
property from the hazards that arise
from the use of electricity. We have long
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NFPA Journal - Summer 2021
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NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - Cover1
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NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - 1
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NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - Contents
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