Compliance with Cybersecurity Frameworks

Cyber Risks in Energy

The energy sector—covering electricity, gas, oil, and hydrogen—is a prime target for cyberattacks due to its critical role in national infrastructure. Any disruption can have severe consequences, including power outages, fuel shortages, financial losses, and safety hazards. Recent incidents, such as the 2026 attack on a Polish energy facility via a private APN, show that even connections long considered low-risk—including cellular and mobile networks—are now being used as pivot points into OT systems.


Regulatory Pressure: Strengthening Security Under Compliance

Governments and industry regulators worldwide have introduced stricter cybersecurity mandates to protect energy infrastructure from cyber threats. Regulations such as NIS2, NERC CIP, IEC 62443, and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) enforce strong authentication, secure remote access, and OT system protection. Compliance is essential to prevent disruptions, financial penalties, and security breaches.

Notable Attacks on the Energy Sector

image2

2026: Private APN Attack Hits Polish Energy Facility

Hackers sabotaged a second Polish energy facility by pivoting through a private APN—a mobile network long considered low-risk. CERT.PL identified it as the first known case of an APN being used as an OT attack vector, exposing cellular remote access as an emerging threat.

A image that the biggest US pipeline company for gasoline is under attack by hackers with red colors

2021: Colonial Pipeline Hack (USA)

A ransomware attack on one of the largest fuel pipelines in the US forced operations to shut down for nearly a week, leading to fuel shortages and panic buying. The company paid a $4.4 million ransom to restore operations, highlighting the vulnerability of critical energy infrastructure.

Ukraine power grid is under attack by hackers with red colors

2015 & 2016: Ukraine Power Grid Attacks

Cyberattacks on Ukraine’s power grid led to widespread outages, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. These attacks demonstrated how malicious actors can infiltrate operational technology (OT) systems and disable critical infrastructure remotely.

Benefits of OT Auth Solutions

Energy companies must secure their operational technology (OT) environments while complying with regulations such as NIS2, IEC 62443, and the UK’s NCSC guidelines. swIDch’s OT authentication solutions—PLC OTAC and OTAC Trusted Access Gateway (TAG)—help energy providers eliminate security vulnerabilities and protect critical systems from cyber threats.

 

Why OT Authentication is Essential for the Energy Industry

security in general

Regulatory Compliance

Ensures businesses meet NIS2, IEC 62443, and CRA cybersecurity standards by enforcing secure authentication and access control.
Air gap

Security in Air-Gapped Environments

PLC OTAC generates dynamic authentication codes that function without requiring network connectivity, reducing the attack surface for cybercriminals.
Remote access

Secure Remote Access for Critical Systems

OTAC Trusted Access Gateway (TAG) enables secure authentication for remote workers, contractors, and maintenance teams, preventing unauthorised access to critical energy infrastructure.
protection

Protection Against OT Cyber Threats

Mitigates risks such as ransomware, unauthorised access, and insider threats, ensuring the continuous operation of SCADA systems, smart grids, and industrial control networks.
swIDch OT expert (resized)-1

How OT Auth solutions work

Traditional authentication methods rely on static passwords or network-based verification, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks such as phishing, credential theft, and replay attacks. swIDch’s OT authentication solutions eliminate these risks by generating dynamic, unidirectional authentication codes that do not require network connectivity.

 

How It Enhances Security in the Energy Sector:
🔹 Ensures only authorised personnel can access critical systems—even in offline or air-gapped environments.
🔹 Protects against credential-based attacks, reducing the risk of unauthorised access.
🔹 Simplifies deployment without requiring any modification of PLCs, ensuring minimal disruption to existing OT infrastructure.

By adopting swIDch’s OT authentication solutions, energy providers can strengthen cybersecurity, meet regulatory requirements, and prevent operational disruptions caused by cyber threats.

 


Discover OT Authentication Solutions

swIDch OT expert (resized)-1

Energy Security FAQs

  • Private APNs are more isolated than the public internet, but they are not immune to compromise—as shown by a 2026 attack that used a private APN to pivot into a Polish energy facility. Because PLC OTAC generates authentication codes independently of any network connection, it adds a layer of protection that remains effective even if the underlying network, cellular or otherwise, is compromised.

  • It prevents unauthorised access to critical energy infrastructure by replacing static credentials with dynamic authentication codes.

  • They support compliance with NIS2, IEC 62443, and other regulations by enforcing strong authentication and secure access control.

  • Yes, it secures both on-premises and remote access to control systems without adding complexity to operations.

 

Award Highlights

Global-InfoSec-Awards-Winner-for-2025_page-0001
Hot Company in PLC Security at the 2025 Global InfoSec Awards
See More
swIDch_ 2024 Top InfoSec Innovator Awards Logo
Hot Company in Operational Technology (OT) Security at the Top InfoSec Innovator Awards 2024
See More
Cybersecurity Breakthrough Award 2022_swIDch
"Transaction Security Solutions of the Year" 2022 CyberSecurity Breakthrough Award
See More
22-SCA-LOGO-LIGHT-RGB_FINAL-MED
Best IoT/IIoT Security Solution 2022 SC Awards
See More
GBA-2022-Gold-PNG
2022 Gold Winner at 14th Annual 2022 Golden Bridge Business and Innovation Awards
See More
2021 Cybertech 100
2021 Cybertech 100
See More
2 Winner BadgeCyber Tech
2020 Cybertech category winner of EUROPAS 2020 Award
See More
CyberSecurity Breakthrough Award 2020 4MP
“Authentication Solution of the Year” CyberSecurity Breakthrough Award 2020
See More

Contact Us Today

Get In touch

Related Topics

Iberian Blackout Shows Why OT Cybersecurity Can’t Be an Afterthought
In late April 2025, Spain and Portugal were hit by one of the most extensive power outages in recent European history. Nearly 60 million people were affected, with electricity lost across cities, rural areas, transport networks, and essential services.
Read More
Why Are Cyberattacks on OT Systems More Dangerous Than IT Breaches?
When people think of cyberattacks, they often picture stolen data, financial fraud, or personal privacy violations. While these threats are serious, they pale in comparison to what’s at stake in Operational Technology (OT) environments—power grids, water treatment plants, oil refineries, and industrial control systems.
Read More
Iran's Gas Stations Cyberattack Sparks Urgent Calls for Industrial Cybersecurity Reform
In recent headlines, an Israel-linked group has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that disrupted operations at Iran's gas stations, shutting down a significant portion of the country's fuel distribution network. This incident underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity in ICS and highlights the vulnerabilities inherent in the systems that power our critical infrastructure.
Read More