PV Cyber-attack! Is my installation safe?
You’ve probably heard the stories: companies brought to a standstill by DDoS attacks, ransomware encrypting everything, or sensitive data being stolen.
The result? Your organization grinds to a halt and the costs skyrocket.
But how realistic is this scenario for your PV installation or energy storage facility? More than you think!
What is a DDoS attack?
A DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) means that multiple computers bombard your system with so many requests that it becomes overloaded and crashes. In other words: your installation becomes unusable due to a wave of digital attacks. But that’s not the only cyber risk.
Because your installation is connected to the internet, hackers can also find other ways to break in. They can, for example, cause your installation to stop functioning or change variables in inverters and batteries. This doesn’t just disrupt the operation of your system but can also lead to material damage and production loss. And that’s not even mentioning the substantial costs involved in reversing a hack.
But why would hackers attack my PV-installation?
The motives vary. Often it’s about money: pay a ransom and you’ll regain access. But sometimes the cause is deeper, and your installation becomes part of a sabotage operation on an international level. Cyber threats from certain regions have unfortunately become more realistic in recent years. And once your installation becomes a target, the consequences can be devastating.
The questions you should ask yourself are: How great is the risk that my installation will be hacked? What will happen if my entire system goes down? How long do I expect the installation to be ‘down’ during an attack? How long can I go without production? A week? A month? And what will that cost me? Think not only about production loss but also about additional costs for recovery and strengthening security.
Prevention is better than cure!
Stay one step ahead of hackers by setting up a robust security plan. Have this plan tested by specialists who know what to look for. Keep your systems up to date and make sure you have monitoring that quickly detects suspicious activities. Hackers keep innovating, so you should too.
Ask yourself:
Can you bear the risk and financial consequences if your installation gets hacked? If the answer is no, contact us today. We are happy to provide advice and solutions to optimally protect your PV-installation from cyber-attacks.
