They say the bigger you are, the harder you’ll fall, but at TVA, they’re working around the clock to make sure the nation’s largest public power utility doesn’t fall to a cybersecurity threat. With cyber crime on the rise, TVA sees tens of thousands of attempts daily.

“We are in a unique position as a federal utility,” said Andrea Brackett, director of TVA’s cybersecurity group. “We have a close and ongoing relationship with our federal intelligence community partners such as the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy. This advanced intelligence allows us, a federal entity, to better prepare and respond to cyber threats, often earlier than our industry peers.”

TVA has also invested in state-of-the-art monitoring systems and equipment for a new cybersecurity operations center, Brackett said. The center first opened in October 2017 and houses the core cybersecurity team that monitors activity across the company as well as threats posed by foreign nation states.

“Our comprehensive cybersecurity program aligns with industry best-practices to predict, protect and respond to threats,” Brackett said. “As an industry, we gather intelligence and collaborate with neighboring utilities and the Electricity–Information Security Analysis Center to stay alert and informed of emerging cyber threats.”

A layered and isolated defense system further protects TVA and is designed to make sure reliable electricity remains available.

“TVA has never experienced a power outage due to a cybersecurity attack,” Brackett said. “You are much more likely to see a power outage due to a weather-related event or wildlife interference.”

Brackett said consumers may not see the team working in a power plant or out on transmission lines, but consumers can rest assured they are an integral part of supporting the safety and reliability of power in the Tennessee Valley.

“We’re making sure that power is delivered to your home,” Brackett said.