From: Zawya

By Conrad Prabhu

The Authority for Electricity Regulation Oman, the Sultanate’s regulator for the power and related water sector, plans to introduce guidelines making it mandatory for companies to secure their critical infrastructure from potential cyber attacks. 

MUSCAT:  The Authority for Electricity Regulation Oman, the Sultanate’s regulator for the power and related water sector, plans to introduce guidelines making it mandatory for companies operating within this strategically vital sector to secure their critical infrastructure from potential cyber attacks. The new regulations, due to be issued during the course of 2015, will be part of the licensing obligations of water desalination firms, as well as power generation, transmission and distribution companies operating under the Sector Law.

Ensuring security of electricity and water supply, says the regulator, is a key part of its statutory functions under the Sector Law. This is articulated in Article 22 of the law, which enjoins the Authority to secure and develop the safe, effective and economic operation of the electricity and related water sector.  Also a key part of its remit is to secure the preparation of technical specifications and criteria and performance security standards for the sector.

According to the Authority, current cyber security legislation in the Sultanate, as enshrined by the Oman e-Transaction and Cyber Crime laws, pertains to general IT crimes per se, and does not address potential cyber threats to industrial automation control systems.

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