Energy Systems: Real Threats. Real Consequences
DER expansion is reshaping cyber risk across modern energy systems. In Episode 16, Gary Mullen, Terry McCorkle, and Katherine Hutton break down why connected inverters, software-driven controls, and global supply chain dependencies are creating faster paths from digital compromise to operational consequence.
What You're About to Discover
In Episode 16 of The Cyber Fusion Report, host Gary Mullen is joined by Terry McCorkle, CEO and Founder of Mithryl Systems, and Katherine Hutton, Product Manager for Cybersecurity at Fluence, for an insightful discussion on the evolving cybersecurity challenges facing the modern energy sector.
As Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) continue to expand, inverters become increasingly connected, and critical infrastructure grows more dependent on software and digital communications, the attack surface for adversaries is changing rapidly. Terry and Katherine explore how the industry is responding to these challenges, where cybersecurity programs are succeeding, and where significant risks remain.
Listeners will learn why inverter security has become such an important topic, how global supply chains are impacting cyber risk, what "secure by design" should actually mean in operational environments, and why securing infrastructure with a 20-year lifecycle requires a fundamentally different approach than traditional IT security.
The conversation also examines the realities of regulatory compliance, cyber-informed engineering, and the growing gap between digital control systems and their real-world operational consequences.
Whether you're responsible for energy operations, OT cybersecurity, risk management, or critical infrastructure resilience, this episode provides practical insights into the threats, trends, and strategic decisions that will shape the future of energy security.