Energy systems are becoming smarter, more integrated, and more challenging to tackle from a cyber security perspective.
A mix of old or proprietary technology coupled with cloud enabled systems can be quite a dangerous recipe. IT and OT domains are converging, and we mustn’t get inadvertently caught out.
Luckily, our experts have decades of experience working with smart energy technologies; and we can help vendors to put the right security features and controls in place before their products get deployed in critical infrastructure environments.
A good example of this is the work CyTAL continues to do in smart metering. Our team has been instrumental in nurturing the development of the CPA scheme over the years and has worked on several CPA assignments for smart metering equipment vendors and other industry bodies.
Fundamentally, anything that enables or controls the flow of energy is always going to be a target.
As the world becomes more reliant on smart energy technologies for heating, lighting and transport it doesn’t take much to disrupt the balance.
Interfaces between products and systems have never been so important to protect and this is where CyTAL really leads the way.
Our advanced security software allows vendors and end-users to assess such interfaces, prioritise previously unknown security issues and then tackle them before they become exposed to the outside world.
Securing the Future of Energy Infrastructure
The energy sector is undergoing its most significant transformation in a century. Smart grids, distributed energy resources, EV charging networks, and IoT-enabled systems are reshaping how we generate, distribute, and consume power. But with increased connectivity comes increased risk.
As IT and OT systems converge, energy infrastructure faces unprecedented cybersecurity challenges. Legacy protocols communicate with cloud platforms, proprietary hardware integrates with open standards, and millions of connected devices create an expanding attack surface that threat actors are actively targeting.
The Challenge
Energy systems are critical infrastructure. A single vulnerability can cascade across networks, disrupting power supplies for homes, businesses, and essential services. The convergence of multiple protocols and technologies creates complexity that traditional security approaches struggle to address.
Modern smart energy ecosystems rely on protocols like:
- OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) for EV charging infrastructure
- Modbus TCP/RTU for industrial control and energy management
- MQTT for lightweight IoT device communication
- DNP3 for supervisory control and data acquisition
- IEC 61850 for substation automation
- Smart metering protocols (DLMS/COSEM, Zigbee, Z-Wave)
Each protocol has its own security considerations, implementation quirks, and potential vulnerabilities. When these systems interoperate, the complexity multiplies.
Our Expertise
CyTAL has decades of experience securing smart energy technologies. We understand the unique challenges of protecting systems where safety, availability, and security must coexist. Our team has been instrumental in developing security standards for the sector, including significant contributions to the CPA (Consumer Products Assurance) scheme for smart metering equipment.
We help energy vendors, utilities, and infrastructure operators to:
Identify Hidden Vulnerabilities
Protocol implementations often contain subtle bugs that traditional testing misses. Our advanced fuzzing technology discovers vulnerabilities before attackers do.
Secure Protocol Interfaces
Whether you’re deploying OCPP-enabled EV chargers, Modbus-connected energy management systems, or MQTT-based IoT devices, we ensure your protocol implementations are robust against attack.
Meet Compliance Requirements
From CPA certification for smart meters to emerging EV charging security standards, we guide you through complex regulatory landscapes.
Bridge IT/OT Security Gaps
Legacy OT systems weren’t designed for internet connectivity. We help you secure the interfaces where operational technology meets modern IT infrastructure.
ProtoCrawler: Advanced Protocol Security Testing
ProtoCrawler is our flagship fuzzing solution, purpose-built for discovering vulnerabilities in both IT and OT protocols. Unlike traditional security testing tools, ProtoCrawler understands the deep semantics of energy sector protocols, enabling it to find implementation flaws that other approaches miss.
ProtoCrawler excels at testing:
- EV charging systems (OCPP, ISO 15118)
- Industrial control protocols (Modbus, DNP3)
- Smart metering implementations
- IoT communication protocols (MQTT, CoAP)
- Custom and proprietary energy protocols
Our platform helps you discover and remediate vulnerabilities during development, significantly reducing the risk of costly security issues in deployed systems.
Explore protocols we support: View our protocol library
Real-World Impact
The vulnerabilities we discover aren’t theoretical. In smart energy systems, security flaws can lead to:
- Unauthorized control of EV charging infrastructure
- Manipulation of energy metering and billing
- Disruption of grid stability
- Privacy breaches exposing consumer energy usage
- Supply chain attacks affecting thousands of devices
By partnering with CyTAL, you ensure your products and systems are hardened against these threats before deployment.
Industry Leadership
Our work extends beyond individual projects. We actively contribute to industry security standards and work with regulatory bodies to raise the security baseline for smart energy technologies. Our expertise in smart metering has helped shape the CPA scheme, and we continue to work with vendors and industry bodies to advance security across the sector.
Why Act Now
The threat landscape is evolving faster than many organizations can respond. Nation-state actors, criminal groups, and hacktivists are increasingly targeting energy infrastructure. Recent incidents have demonstrated that smart energy systems are not just vulnerable in theory they’re being actively exploited.
The cost of addressing security after deployment is exponentially higher than building it in from the start. Whether you’re developing new products, deploying infrastructure, or managing existing systems, proactive security testing is essential.
Get Started With ProtoCrawler
Protect your smart energy systems before vulnerabilities become incidents. Our team can help you:
- Evaluate your current security posture
- Test products and systems for protocol-level vulnerabilities
- Implement security best practices for your technology stack
- Prepare for certification and compliance requirements
Contact us to discuss how we can help secure your smart energy infrastructure.
Industries we serve: Smart Metering | EV Charging Infrastructure | Distributed Energy Resources | Grid Management Systems | Building Energy Management | Industrial Control Systems