Commissioner Wayne Christian of the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) has warned oil and gas producers, pipeline operators, and other energy companies that they must strengthen their cybersecurity measures. This warning follows recent cyberattacks on foreign-flagged energy vessels heading towards Texas and federal alerts regarding threats to critical infrastructure.
Cyber Threats to Energy Infrastructure
Christian stated that Texas's role as a major oil and gas producer has made its energy infrastructure a target for foreign adversaries and other malicious cyber actors. He said: "Texas is the energy capital of the world, and this makes our energy infrastructure a prime target for foreign adversaries. We must invest, test, monitor, and strengthen our defenses now."
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Details of Recent Cyberattacks
This warning comes after cyber incidents in August involving two foreign-flagged energy vessels. The Coast Guard and FBI boarded these vessels as there was evidence of foreign cyber actors infiltrating their networks. One of these vessels, the VL Prosperity tanker, measuring 1,093 feet and flagged in Liberia, was heading towards the Port of Galveston and had a carrying capacity of approximately 2.3 million barrels of oil. Federal officials have not yet identified any specific country or group as responsible for this cyberattack.
Christian also referred to federal warnings indicating that cyber actors linked to foreign nations are attacking critical U.S. infrastructure, which includes operational technologies and industrial control systems. The RRC issued a cybersecurity notice to its regulated operators earlier this year, warning that successful attacks could lead to operational disruptions and financial losses. The commission has encouraged operators to enhance cybersecurity resilience across all their operations.
Christian also called for the energy industry to consider the adoption of artificial intelligence as part of its cybersecurity strategy, as cyber threats are continuously evolving.
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