The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued a Notice of Inquiry (“NOI”) and Final Rule at the end of July to address several urgent cybersecurity issues affecting the bulk electric system. FERC is taking these actions in the face of increasingly sophisticated threats to our power grid, including in response to an actual cyber-attack against Ukraine’s electricity […]
Cyber Risk
Alston & Bird Issues Advisory on Six Myths of Breach Response
Alston & Bird recently issued an Advisory entitled “Six Myths of Breach Response,” authored by Jim Harvey. As data breaches are on the rise, so are the challenges that businesses face in handling these security incidents. This Advisory identifies six strategic pitfalls to avoid when responding to breaches. The Advisory addresses the true significance of […]
SEC Continues to Focus on Cyber-related Disclosures
Participating in a panel at the “SEC Speaks” event on February 19, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Enforcement Division Stephanie Avakian expressed that the Commission continues to focus on cybersecurity as a top priority in 2016. Avakian discussed the Commission’s cybersecurity concerns in three contexts: (1) failure of registered entities to follow Rule 30(a) of […]
The Importance of Strategic Vendors in Breach Response
Alston & Bird recently issued an Advisory, co-authored by Jim Harvey and Karen Sanzaro, on the complexities of managing a data breach that implicates strategic third party vendor relationships. Cybercrime and data security incidents are on the rise. Security breaches and the ensuing investigation and remediation process can be costly and complex. The process is […]
Moody’s Identifies Cyber Risk As Key Factor in Credit Ratings
In a report released November 23, Moody’s Investors Service announced that the implications of cyber threats could start taking a higher priority in its credit analysis. Moody’s said it views cyber threats as similar to other extraordinary event risks, such as a natural disaster. “While we do not explicitly incorporate cyber risk as a principal […]