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EDF’s nuclear security shortfalls

EDF under scrutiny for nuclear security ‘shortfalls’. Hinkley Point C
developer placed under enhanced monitoring over threat of digital attacks.

Nuclear regulators have stepped up their monitoring of French power giant
EDF amid concerns about cyber security. The UK’s Office for Nuclear
Regulation (ONR) has put the company under “enhanced attention” after
finding “shortfalls” in its cyber security plans, The Telegraph can
reveal.

French state-owned EDF owns and runs the UK’s nuclear power
fleet. It is also building the UK’s first new nuclear power station in a
generation, Hinkley Point C in Somerset, with its minority Chinese partner
CGN.

Cyber security is of heightened concern nationally amid Russia’s war
on Ukraine. Russia has been blamed for cyber attacks which disrupted
windfarms in Europe on the eve of its invasion and security officials have
called on British organisations to bolster their defences.

In a blog post
last week, Dr Marsha Quallo-Wright, deputy director for Private Sector
Critical National Infrastructure at the National Cyber Security Centre,
said “now is not the time for complacency” despite no significant cyber
attacks on UK organisations since Russia’s invasion.

The ONR has stepped
up monitoring of EDF following a string of routine inspections over the
past 12 months, during which it said it “identified shortfalls in
governance, risk and compliance and certain technical controls”. EDF said
the shortfalls related to cyber security. A spokesman added: “EDF works
in very close partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre and some
joint studies with them identified some areas for improvement, such as in
risk awareness. “We are constantly striving to improve security and work
with various bodies, including the ONR, to achieve this. The cyber threat
is a constantly evolving area and we want to stay ahead of the threat.”

 Telegraph 9th July 2022

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/07/09/edf-scrutiny-nuclear-security-shortfalls/

July 11, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, safety