Palo Alto Networks & SLB Partner to Secure Energy Sector
In a landmark move to tackle the growing cybersecurity crisis in the energy sector, leading cyber company Palo Alto Networks has partnered with energy tech titan SLB.
The alliance aims to merge SLB's expertise in cloud and edge technologies with Palo Alto Networks' cross-industry cybersecurity solutions.
"The maturation of our industry's digital transformation makes cybersecurity paramount to our operations, and the digital solutions we offer to our customers," said Olivier Le Peuch, Chief Executive Officer of SLB.
This partnership comes at a critical juncture, as the industry grapples with an unprecedented surge in digital threats.
Threats facing energy sector
The energy sector has experienced a 264% increase in cyberattacks in the past 2 years, according to Palo Alto Networks research arm Unit 42.
Reliance on legacy operational technology systems, the inherent complexity of its infrastructure and the critical nature of the industry make it an attractive target for threat actors.
Malware, phishing, and ransomware top the list of common cyber threats facing the energy industry, according to a recent report, by IT consultancy Thales, with nearly a quarter of the respondents having fallen victim to a ransomware attack in the last 12 months.
Equally, as much of the industry accelerates its adoption of digital solutions - spurred by things like the EU action plan - and moves operations to the cloud and increasingly makes use of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, it exponentially expands the attack surface.
SLB operates in more than 100 countries and helps companies like TotalEnergies - among the world's top five producers of renewable electricity - develop digital solutions aimed at making hydrocarbon production more sustainable.
Therefore, as part of the collaboration, SLB will integrate Palo Alto Networks' Precision AI-powered cybersecurity platforms into its technology stack.
This includes Prisma SASE, Prisma Cloud, and Cortex XSIAM, which will provide comprehensive security across SLB's network, cloud, and edge platforms.
The move will enable thousands of domain and AI users on SLB's Delfi digital platform to collaborate in a secure environment.
"Palo Alto Networks commends SLB for their forward-looking approach in shaping the future of the energy industry through secure and innovative solutions,” says Nikesh Arora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palo Alto Networks.
“Their vision for modern IT transformation through platformisation aligns with our own commitment to safeguarding critical infrastructure and driving technological advancement."
Securing energy for the future
Although this partnership represents a great step to secure the growing digitalisation of the energy sector’s operations, a multi-pronged effort is still required.
The heightened political landscape across the world has seen a surge in state actors engaging in attacks of a country’s critical infrastructure. A recent report from IT security company Imperva highlighted a 548% rise in application layer DDoS attacks targeting the telecom and ISP sectors.
Understanding the threat, President Biden made cybersecurity of critical infrastructure like water supply a key part of his administration as a result.
This collaboration between SLB and Palo Alto Networks represents industry taking steps to see off the rising threat and secure an increasingly digitalised industry.
Only through such concerted efforts can the industry hope to stay ahead of the rising tide of cyber threats and ensure the security of critical energy infrastructure in the digital age. But with both government and enterprise agreeing on the issues faced, concerted efforts like Palo Alto Networks and SLB’s collaboration show a move to meet the cybersecurity challenges head on.
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