COOPERATIVE CYBERSECURITY STAYS TOP OF MIND YEAR-ROUND
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
YOUR CO-OP NEWS
COOPERATIVE CYBERSECURITY
STAYS TOP OF MIND YEAR-ROUND
BY TOM WALCH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
I
f you are a regular reader of these pages, you focuses on the development of a self-assess-
know that we emphasize the importance of ment that identifies vulnerabilities and areas
TOM WALCH
safety. Our first and foremost guiding prin- for improvement. It is tailor-made for small
ciple is that we are dedicated to the safety of our and mid-sized cooperatives that have limited current threat landscape.
workforce and the general public. Our business resources and small IT staffs. Participation Successful cyberattacks can cost a coop-
is a dangerous business, and it is impera- in the program has helped GVP identify erative lost time and productivity, permanent
tive that we protect against the hazards that tools and resources that improve our ability data loss, financial losses and a host of other
threaten the health and well-being of our team to protect against threats. It has led us to harmful effects. By taking a leadership role in
members and consumers. Some of the safety enforce more restrictive access to networks cybersecurity, Grand Valley Power can create
hazards we deal with are apparent and recog- and data, implement robust backup solu- layers of defense to prevent malicious attacks
nizable. Our team members work in close tions, and remove unnecessary consumer from affecting our member’s safe, reliable and
proximity to high voltage electric lines; we and employee personally identifiable infor- secure power. Our principled approach will
use heavy, complex equipment. We work in mation from data storage. help ensure that we continue to deliver value
traffic, in trenches, and high above the ground. What else have we done? GVP Information to all we serve.
We work in all kinds of inclement weather, at Technology Manager Karen Allen took part Each October, we celebrate National
all times of the day and night. in GridEx, a national exercise, facilitated by Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For tips on
But our focus on safety goes beyond this. armed forces personnel, simulating a cyber how you can stay secure and protect yourself
It is part of our mission to protect our busi- and physical attack on the North American from cyber scams, visit gvp.org/cybersecuri-
ness, our assets, and our consumers from electricity grid. Since our involvement with ty-and-scams or follow our Facebook page at
cyberthreats. You see, in addition to the phys- NRECA’s RC3 program, we’ve also been a Facebook.com/GVRuralPower.
ical threats that we can see, we are vulnerable member of the Electricity Information Sharing
against less visible attacks on the high-tech, and Analysis Center. This membership is COMMENTS TO THE CEO
data driven infrastructure that is critical to our valuable because it provides our employees You are a member of a cooperative and
ability to keep the lights on. Distribution util- situational awareness on security threats for your opinion does count. If you have any
ities like GVP are sometimes targeted by bad the electric industry. Networks, resources, questions, concerns, or comments, please
let me know by writing to Ask the CEO, P.O.
actors because they are viewed as too small bulletins and remediation plans keep us better Box 190, Grand Junction, CO 81502, or send
to adequately protect themselves. They have positioned and informed on the latest grid an email to me at twalch@gvp.org. Check our
been targeted by international cyberterrorists security measures. website at gvp.org.
who want to disrupt grid operations. Other RC3 has also helped us recognize that
cyberattacks are motivated by greed, where one of the biggest cybersecurity risk factors BOARD MEETING NOTICE
the bad guys penetrate the defenses of utilities is human behavior. Training for employees Grand Valley Power board meetings are open
and other businesses to inject ransomware that and members of the board of directors is a big to the members, consumers and public, but
due to current COVID-19 health concerns,
disables computer networks or steals data to part of our cybersecurity efforts. For the past
please call us at 970-242-0040 if you are
collect ransom payments that range into the couple of years, each employee and director interested in attending. Regularly scheduled
millions of dollars. consistently received cybersecurity trainings board meetings are held at 9 a.m. on the third
Grand Valley Power takes a leadership through KnowBe4, the world’s first and largest Wednesday of each month at the headquarters
building located at 845 22 Road, Grand Junction,
role in protecting against cyberthreats. When new-school security awareness training and
Colorado.
the Department of Energy partnered with simulated phishing platform. This enables our The monthly agenda is posted in the lobby
the National Rural Electric Cooperative employees to make smarter security decisions of the headquarters building 10 days before
Association and its Rural Cooperative and recognize social engineering techniques, each meeting and posted on the GVP website.
If anyone desires to address the board of
Cybersecurity Capabilities (RC3) program like ransomware and phishing attacks. Karen
directors, please let us know in advance and
a few years ago, Grand Valley Power was one and her team also give monthly board meeting you will be placed on the agenda.
of the first participants selected. The program updates on cyber resilience and reviews the
COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE
OCTOBER 2021 7
YOUR CO-OP NEWS
GRAND VALLEY POWER WELCOMES
NEW DIRECTOR BRIAN WOODS
BY DANA POGAR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
I
n early August, Grand Valley Power service field at Clifton Sanitation District
announced the results of the 2021 GVP (wastewater) first as an operator and then
Board of Directors election and welcomed as the general manager for 15 years. During
a new face to the team, Brian Woods. this time, he earned a degree in environ-
Brian was inspired to petition for a seat mental restoration engineering at Mesa State
on GVP’s board because of his commit- College (now Colorado Mesa University).
ment and passion to serve the Western Slope Brian is a fourth-generation Western
community. “I recognized an opportunity to Colorado native, initially growing up in
positively support Grand Valley Power and the small town of Uravan, Colorado, before
their values,” he stated. “As a newly elected relocating to Grand Junction. In 1980, Brian
director, I strive to keep the cooperative’s graduated from Central High School where Grand Valley Power members elected Brian
Woods to the board on Friday, August 6, 2021,
mission in mind — providing a safe, afford- he met his wife, Vicki. In 1985, Brian and after the cooperative’s Annual Meeting of
members. Woods will serve a three-year term
able and reliable source of electricity to all Vicki were married and have raised their two and join the six other sitting directors on the
co-op members. I consider it a privilege to children, Corey, and Jennifer, in the Grand cooperative’s board.
have been selected to represent the constitu- Valley. Outside of working and serving his
ents of GVP and look forward to the journey community, Brian enjoys adventuring in the in. Each will serve a three-year term and join
ahead.” great outdoors, traveling and spending time the six other sitting directors on the cooper-
Brian first began working in the with friends and family. ative’s board. Please join us in congratulating
construction field and then as an under- During the August monthly board Brian, Jesse and Bill on this achievement!
ground miner for 10 years. For the next 29 meeting, Brian along with incumbents, Jesse For more information on director elections,
years to retirement, he worked in the utility Mease and William “Bill” Rooks were sworn please visit gvp.org/director-elections.
October 28 & 29
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join us for a spooky celebration
GRAND VALLEY POWER
with costumes, sweet treats, and
845 22 Road
Grand Junction, CO 81505 FREE glow sticks!
Board Meeting - Wednesday, October 20
Co-op
Fruita Truck N Treat - Saturday, October 23
Calendar
Glow Halloween - Thursday, October 28 and Friday, October 29
8 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE
OCTOBER 2021
YOUR CO-OP NEWS
MISSION ODIN
How GVP is helping implement standardized outage data
BY CHRISTMAS WHARTON COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
G
rand Valley Power’s goal was standard or guidance on how to share this
simple. Does this help our data. The benefits of joining the initiative
members? The answer was yes. are creating a common operating picture
Guided by our cooperative principle, for situational awareness to support
CHRISTMAS WHARTON
Concern for Community, Grand Valley emergency management and creating a
Power’s engineering manager, Matt “universal translator” for outage data to
Williams, reached out to the National Rural drive improved decision support and iden-
Electric Cooperative Association after he tify, quantify and prioritize emergency
heard about the opportunity to support response resources. “If this is going to help emergency
emergency managers, infrastructure part- “ODIN was designed for first responders managers and first responders,
ners and neighboring utilities through the and national emergency teams,” says Tony we’re all about sharing this
Outage Data Initiative Nationwide (ODIN). Thomas, NRECA’s senior principal engi-
information.”
“All we needed to do was give permis- neer. “It’s a place for emergency service
sion to view our outage data (which does crews to see exactly what the electrical — Matt Williams, Grand Valley
not include any member information).” environment looks like at the moment.” Power engineering manager
says Williams. “Grand Valley Power Other benefits include real-time updates
utilizes an Outage Management System to other stakeholders like local, state and natural gas sectors, although not public.
(OMS), which helps dispatchers predict federal emergency partners; improved While there are some web crawling
and manage outages in real-time. Since utility response and restoration activities; tools that map current regional or nation-
our OMS vendor, National Information improved dispatching of first responders wide outages out there, this data is collected
Solutions Cooperative (NISC), was one for public safety; and reducing unnecessary in a variety of ways that are not robust and
of the original partners in the project, calls to utilities seeking status updates. “If often not comprehensive. Even though
sharing data was simple, and integrating this is going to help emergency managers some states are attempting this, there is no
with ODIN was seamless. and first responders, we’re all about sharing coordination between states, and therefore
ODIN’s vision is to create a nationwide this information,” says Williams. “As more regional and national common operating
power outage map that is detailed, timely, utilities sign up, we can start to benchmark pictures are not available. Coordination is
and actionable to be utilized by utilities, our outage performance against others.” important because storms and emergen-
emergency managers, and the public. Phase 1 of ODIN in 2018 led to the cies do not recognize utility, county and
ODIN was formed to create a standard, successful integration of a statewide power state boundaries. Mutual aid often comes
provide guidance to the industry, and assist outage map for Washington state. Phase 2 from neighboring states or from regions
in implementation. Outage Data Initiative expanded integration and an ongoing Phase not affected by the emergency. ODIN
Nationwide (ODIN) is an effort to create 3 is targeting the entire nation connecting will provide a national view of outages in
a comprehensive map that encompasses with utilities, outage management system one location. “The ODIN system boosts
near real-time updates of power outages vendors and state emergency managers to interoperability among grid stakeholders
across the United States. The ODIN map adopt ODIN standards to improve interop- and creates a conduit for sharing outage
provides details by county, ZIP code or lati- erability among grid stakeholders. “ODIN related data in real time under any situa-
tude and longitude, including estimated is now in Phase 3 of the effort, and we’re tion,” stated Irwin.
times that power might be restored. ODIN engaging additional utilities and regions To view the current Nationwide Outage
was developed by the U.S. Department of and vendors to support implementa- Map, visit odin.ornl.gov.
Energy Office of Electricity’s Advanced tion. We’re also developing an energy and
Grid Research and Oak Ridge National power outage data workshop and future Reprinted sections with permission from
Lab. Contributing members also include plans to integrate with EAGLE-I,” says the September 2021 issue of RE Magazine
NRECA and NISC. Chris Irwin, Department of Energy, Smart © NRECA
The ODIN map was developed out of Grid Interoperability Program Manager.
a need, like most things. Many utilities EAGLE-I is an interactive geographic infor- NISC is an industry leader providing advanced,
integrated IT solutions for consumer and
display outage data on their websites, while mation system that allows users to view
subscriber billing, accounting, engineering &
some only post to Twitter or Facebook. and map the nation’s energy infrastruc-
operations, as well as many other leading-edge
Some utilities do not share outage data ture and obtain near real-time information IT solutions.
information at all. There was no industry concerning the electric, petroleum, and
COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE
OCTOBER 2021 9
YOUR CO-OP NEWS
NATIONAL CO-OP AWARENESS MONTH GVRuralPower GVRuralPower
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH:
CELEBRATING THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE
BY DANA POGAR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
A
ce Hardware, State Farm, REI, board of directors, who helps set long-term HOMETOWN PARTNERSHIPS
Land O’Lakes and Grand Valley priorities for the co-op, also live locally on The seventh cooperative principle is
Power all share something in co-op lines. These board members have Concern for Community. Cooperatives
common. Each organization listed is been elected by neighbors just like you. work for the sustainable development
a cooperative business. We may be in We know our members have a valuable of their communities through employee
different industries, but we all share a perspective, and that’s why we are continu- involvement in local organizations,
passion for serving our members and ally seeking your input and encourage you through charitable contributions to
helping our communities to thrive. In to weigh in on important co-op issues and community efforts and through support
fact, all cooperatives adhere to the same participate in co-op elections. for schools.
set of seven principles that reflect our core In 2020, Grand Valley Power contrib-
values of honesty, transparency, equity, HOMETOWN SERVICE uted $146,000 in community donations
inclusiveness, and service to the greater If there is one thing that distinguishes Grand and awarded over $20,000 in scholarship
community good. October is National Valley Power from all the rest, it’s five-star funds to local students. The co-op is deter-
Co-op Month, so this is the perfect time customer service. When you call your cooper- mined to enrich the lives of those living
to reflect on these principles that have ative, a real person answers the phone, which and working in the communities it serves
stood the test of time but also discuss what is something that’s hard to come by nowadays. — now and in the future.
makes your cooperative unique. “It’s so great to receive service from a Please join us in celebrating National
real person! Every time I call, a friendly and Co-op Awareness Month this October
DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL helpful voice always answers the phone; don’t by following us on Facebook and Twitter
Our co-op is well-suited to meet the needs change how you do business,” said one valued searching for “Grand Valley Power” or @
of our members because we are locally co-op member. GVRuralPower. On behalf of everyone
governed. Each member gets a voice and With over 19,000 consumers, Grand at the cooperative, thank you for being a
a vote in how the co-op is run, and each Valley Power is dedicated to providing each valued member!
voice and vote are equal. Grand Valley member with the hometown service and
Power’s leadership team and employees support they deserve — that’s the co-op
live right here in the community. Our difference.
10 COLOR ADO COUNTRY LIFE
OCTOBER 2021
You can also read
