Dynamic Ratings joins the Asset to Vendor Network
Dynamic Ratings is joining the Asset to Vendor Network (A2V) to aid in securing America’s power grid.
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USA, Wisconsin, Sussex: Dynamic Ratings, a recognized leader in condition-based monitoring products and services providers to the utility industry, is joining the Asset to Vendor Network (A2V) to aid in securing America’s power grid.
Dynamic Ratings will join A2V founders Fortress Information Security (Fortress), American Electric Power (AEP) and Southern Company (Southern) in the national cybersecurity information-sharing collaborative focused on securing the supply chain in the utility industry.
Dynamic Ratings provides monitoring for transformers, generators, circuit breakers, motors, batteries, and switchgear for several of the nation’s largest utilities. As a participant in the A2V network, Dynamic Ratings meets security-related standards and shares cybersecurity best practices with members of the Asset to Vendor Network. Dynamic Ratings joins other participants, including Hitachi ABB Power Grids, a leading global engineering solution for power utilities, amongst the companies providing information. At a time when the nation is seeing an increase in ransomware attacks, this kind of partnership in the utility industry could prevent an attack from turning into an industry-wide catastrophe.
“Joining A2V demonstrates our dedication to cooperating with our customers to meet their compliance requirements,” said Dynamic Ratings General Manager Tony Pink. “We are already working with multiple power utilities to optimize maintenance and operations and minimize risks. With this new partnership, we can now reduce the amount of time we spend answering multiple redundant cybersecurity controls questionnaires from our customer and provide them with access to a single completed questionnaire through the A2V Network. This frees up our staff to focus on maintaining a secure perimeter and on providing quality products and services to our customers. Furthermore, being transparent with our products makes a statement to our customers that we are on the same team in protecting the power grid.”
The decision to work with A2V comes at an important time in the utility sector. The industry is working with a new set of rules and guidelines, including new updates to North American Electric Reliability Corporation critical infrastructure protection (CIP) standards, specifically CIP standards 005, 010, and 013, that took effect on 1 October 2020, and the Bulk Power Systems Executive Order from the White House.
“The demands on the utility industry are greater than ever before at a time when there are more threats and even more expenses,” said Alex Santos, co-founder and CEO of Fortress. “The A2V Network helps utilities keep compliance costs down and strengthen their security during this period of unprecedented transition. Dynamic Ratings will make A2V more effective and we will help them provide value to their customers. We are excited to have this respected company and their distinguished team joining with us to help secure the U.S. power grid.”
Fortress provides security products and services to utilities covering all the lower 48 states and the District of Columbia. Companies in A2V have a combined total of more than 175,000 employees in over 80 operating companies and provide power to over 50 million consumers.
Source: Dynamic Ratings