Monthly Seminar Series

Advancing Cybersecurity in the Cyber-Energy Landscape

Smart Grid System Enabling Real Time Disaster Response and Energy Rerouting

Leveraging Regulatory Compliance to Drive OT Cybersecurity Maturity

Thursday, March 27, 4:00pm, 611 Benedum Hall 

With Scott Christensen from GreyMatter & Patrick Miller from Ampyx Cyber

Organizations can create a culture of continuous improvement in cybersecurity by using compliance frameworks to enable employees, rather than simply restrict them. We’ll discuss how CMMC, NERC CIP and the TSA Security Directive can promote risk management, data protection and strengthen incident response while ensuring industry accountability and trust with partners and clients. Our speakers will also explore key risks to operational technology (OT) environments, how to achieve compliance on antiquated systems and how to select the right cybersecurity framework. 

Scott Christensen is the Cyber Practice Lead for Pittsburgh-based GrayMatter, a leading solutions provider assisting industrial companies in their digital journeys. He leads all facets of GrayMatter's cyber business with a focus on delivering cybersecurity solutions into OT and industrial environments. Prior to joining GrayMatter, Scott was the Cyber Subject Matter Expert for GE Digital, leading its efforts to help clients mitigate risks associated with digital transformation projects. He has held positions with Wurldtech Security Technologies; Dexa Systems (formerly a division of Schlumberger); CSI Software; NetIQ and Bindview, primarily focusing on cybersecurity in the oil and gas, power, manufacturing and healthcare markets. 

Patrick Miller shares over 35 years of IT/OT experience through his consulting services as an independent security and regulatory advisor for the Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource sectors. He is currently the President & CEO of Ampyx Cyber, an industrial security consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon, and Tallinn, Estonia. He is also the US Coordinator for the Industrial Cybersecurity Center, or CCI (Centro de Ciberseguridad Industrial) based in Madrid, Spain and an instructor for the Cyber Information Security Leader (CISL) course through CSA CPH in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Protecting an OT Environment with Allowlisting

Thursday, April 24, 4:00pm, 611 Benedum Hall 

With Isaac Martell, Manager of CyberSecurity EQT

While we see new and transformative technology daily, the backbone of our critical infrastructure is running on older, difficult to update OT systems that should not be accessible from the Internet. However, those OT devices are often managed by devices that do have Internet connectivity.

Allowlisting mitigates this risk by ensuring that only approved applications and processes are permitted to run on systems that interact with OT equipment.

Isaac Martell, Manager of CyberSecurity at EQT has over 18 years of experience in CyberSecurity.

The University of Pittsburgh Cyber Energy Center is excited to host a monthly seminar series, on the last Thursday of the month, dedicated to addressing the evolving cybersecurity needs of the cyber-energy sector. These seminars will focus on the development of innovative solutions for securing operational technology (OT) and critical infrastructure, while fostering workforce development and educational opportunities for professionals.

The monthly seminar series will feature a mix of guest speakers, panel discussions, and case studies, each focusing on different aspects of the cybersecurity landscape, from technology innovations to workforce development strategies. These hybrid sessions will provide a platform for professionals, researchers, and policymakers to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange knowledge, and explore potential collaborations to advance cybersecurity in the cyber-energy sector.

Open to a broad audience, including professionals in cybersecurity, energy, IT, and OT fields, as well as researchers and educators, the series will offer valuable insights into how the center is shaping the future of cybersecurity and energy technologies, while contributing to a more secure, educated, and diverse workforce.

Join Us: Please email Tara Rankin to register to be a part of this exciting and impactful series.

Previous Seminars:

 

Seminar Goals

The series will highlight cutting-edge tools and technologies aimed at improving the security of critical infrastructure. Experts will discuss how these innovations can support the integration of IT and OT systems, helping industries address both legacy systems and the demands of a rapidly changing technological landscape.

In select sessions, participants will learn about emerging educational opportunities that equip professionals with the skills necessary to thrive in the expanding cyber-energy field. We aim to provide valuable insights into training, certification, and career development paths for individuals working within the cyber-energy sector.

A major focus of the series will be exploring solutions for securing OT, which is critical to our nation’s infrastructure. Industry leaders and academics will address how to build and manage a cohesive IT and OT environment that can safeguard against cyber threats, ensuring resilience in today’s interconnected world.

Cyber Energy Center

University of Pittsburgh

Funded by the Department of Energy

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