Building Cyber Resilience in the Energy Sector

Sachin Punn, Cyber Advisory Director, Avella 

Back in September, I shared a series of reflections around one of the most pressing challenges faced today: How can the energy sector build and sustain cyber resilience? 

As one of the UK’s critical national infrastructure (CNI) sectors, energy underpins everything. From powering homes and hospitals to supporting financial systems and transport networks, its reliability cannot be taken for granted. Yet increasing digitalisation, interconnected supply chains, and the integration of smart technologies mean that the attack surface is expanding at the same time as the threat environment becomes more complex. 

This blog brings those reflections together - not as a definitive checklist, but as a set of themes that continue to shape the conversation about resilience in energy. 

1. Supply Chain Risk 

Resilience doesn’t stop at the boundaries of your own organisation. In energy, suppliers, service providers, and third-party vendors often handle sensitive systems and data. Weaknesses in these chains can become weaknesses in the sector as a whole. Addressing supply chain risk means raising the baseline across the ecosystem, not just within the operator. 

2. Cyber Risk and Operational Resilience 

Cyber security and operational resilience are often treated as separate disciplines - but in the energy sector, they’re inseparable. A cyber incident doesn’t just impact data; it can directly disrupt services that millions rely on. Resilience is about ensuring continuity, not just protecting assets. 

3. Anomaly Detection 

Detection is essential, but it’s only as useful as its accuracy. False positives can overwhelm security teams and divert attention from real threats. In critical environments like energy, getting this balance right is vital. Effective anomaly detection should empower teams, not exhaust them. 

4. Security in Smart Energy Systems 

Smart energy technologies bring efficiency, innovation, and data-driven optimisation. But they also create new entry points for attackers. Security has to be designed in from the start, not added as an afterthought. If we fail to embed security early, we risk building vulnerabilities into the very foundations of tomorrow’s energy systems. 

5. Screening and Vetting 

Technology alone cannot deliver resilience. People remain both our greatest asset and our most significant vulnerability. Effective screening and vetting processes are essential to build trust in those who manage and access critical systems. Cyber resilience is as much about people as it is about technology. 

6. Final Reflections 

Resilience is not a single solution, nor a static state. It is a mindset - one that demands continuous improvement, collaboration across stakeholders, and recognition that the threat landscape will keep evolving. 

In energy, this means bringing together supply chain partners, regulators, and operators to align expectations, share lessons, and invest in resilience across the board. 

Why This Matters 

Energy is not just another sector. It is the backbone of daily life and the economy. Ensuring its resilience is not optional - it is essential. 

These six themes are just starting points, but they highlight the breadth of issues that demand attention. From anomaly detection to human factors, each thread weaves into a bigger picture: a sector that must be ready not only to withstand cyber threats, but to adapt and thrive in spite of them.