ElectriCities of North Carolina and the Missouri Public Utility Alliance (MPUA) recently hosted cybersecurity training for public power utility officials.
The American Public Power Association coordinated the free cybersecurity training to help public power utility professionals build cyber resilience and readiness, as part of APPA’s Cyber Pathways program.
ElectriCities of North Carolina hosted a cybersecurity training in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September, while the training hosted by MPUA took place in August in Columbia, Mo.
Both events offered a combination of classroom lectures, hands-on lab environment and practical exercises. Participants were introduced to relevant cybersecurity threats specific to critical infrastructure providers.
“Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It is a utility operations issue,” said Greg Flinn, Senior Utility Systems Project Engineer at ElectriCities of North Carolina. Flinn is also a member of APPA’s new Cyber Committee.
“This was one of the most practical cybersecurity trainings I’ve attended because the content was relevant, actionable, and directly applicable to the real-world challenges public power utilities face every day. As the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) continues to accelerate, utility personnel at every level must understand their role in protecting critical infrastructure,” he said.
“ElectriCities, partnering with NUARI [Norwich University Applied Research Institutes] and APPA, provides tremendous value by bringing together utilities, industry experts, and trusted partners to deliver hands-on training that helps public power organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture, improve operational resilience, and bridge the gap between IT and OT security. These collaborative efforts are essential to ensuring that public power utilities are prepared to address evolving cyber threats while continuing to provide safe and reliable service to their communities.”
“This training enhanced my ability to help MPUA and our member utilities address the growing cybersecurity challenges facing the public power industry,” said Kevin Fulks, Director of I.T. and Building Systems, at MPUA.
“The course provided practical strategies for assessing risk, prioritizing cybersecurity investments, and implementing effective security controls. The knowledge gained will support MPUA's efforts to expand cybersecurity services and guidance for our members, helping them improve resilience, protect critical infrastructure, and respond to an increasingly complex threat landscape,” he said.
“I enrolled without knowing what to fully expect from the course material,” said Jeffrey Lowe, IT Director for the City of Harrisonville, Mo., who also participated in the training at MPUA. “I was immediately impressed by how the trainers took the time to get to know the class and tailored the material to our different backgrounds and levels of experience. I found that approach made the training engaging and genuinely relevant.”
A similar training took place in July and was hosted by the Northeast Public Power Association and conducted by Norwich University Applied Research Institutes.
