The “electric grid” – the equipment that delivers electricity from power plants to customers – is a critical part of America’s backbone infrastructure, vital to the nation’s security, economy and public health.

In the U.S., grid security is a shared responsibility of public-private partnerships that leverage the strengths of all parties. The electric utility industry has operated at a heightened state of security since the 2001 U.S. terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, working closely with multiple entities to safeguard the grid from intrusion, sabotage and attack – whether cyber, physical or both.

Those entities include the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Energy, federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies, state and local law enforcement departments, and web security firms.

Duke Energy uses comprehensive, multilayered cybersecurity measures to protect its computer systems, both software and hardware. The company’s highly skilled information technology specialists monitor the grid around the clock, searching for abnormal cyber activity and quickly responding to any incident.

Also, Duke Energy is continuously strengthening the grid’s resiliency by installing multilayered, backup defense systems – so that if one section of the grid is interrupted, another section often can keep power flowing to customers.

To ensure it is doing all it can to be prepared, the company conducts simulated real-life drills and comprehensive employee training for any type of emergency.