Pakistan’s energy sector faces rising cyber risks amid rapid digitalisation: report 

A joint report by Kaspersky and VDC Research has warned that Pakistan’s energy sector must prepare for rising cyber threats as rapid digitalisation reshapes operations over the next two years.

The report, titled “Powering Cyber Resilience in the Energy Sector,” said fewer than 5% of energy organisations are currently fully digital, but nearly 75% expect to reach that stage within two years.

The study said the shift is transforming power generation, transmission and distribution, improving efficiency and reliability. However, increased connectivity is also exposing systems to cyber risks.

More than half of energy organisations surveyed reported cyber incidents causing losses exceeding $1 million, raising concerns about operational continuity and grid stability.

The report noted that companies are adopting technologies such as artificial intelligence-based analytics, digital twins and predictive maintenance systems to manage supply and demand, detect faults and reduce outages.

Automation tools, including drones and robotics, are also being deployed to improve inspection processes and enhance performance indicators such as system reliability and outage duration.

However, the study identified a shortage of specialised cybersecurity professionals as a key challenge, with over 45% of organisations citing talent gaps in industrial cybersecurity.

It also highlighted coordination issues between information technology and operational teams, with nearly three-quarters of organisations reporting that cyber security for control systems is led by IT, while fewer than 10% said operational teams are in charge.

The report said these gaps could lead to inconsistencies in cyber protection strategies as the sector expands its digital infrastructure.