Page 240 - Cyber Defense eMagazine June 2024

A secure network

As part of its Infrastructure Bill, the Biden Administration pledged to build 500,000 new EV charging
stations by 2030. To bring this plan to fruition, the expanded EV-adjacent workforce promised by
government officials will need to focus on skill-building in EV charging station cybersecurity.

We know that cyberattacks on the current and future EV charging infrastructure are bound to occur.
Cybercriminals are improving their methods day by day, and cybersecurity professionals must do the
same. What is critical is an understanding of how a robust EV infrastructure supports overall national
security.

To safeguard against the onslaught of cyber threats that are bound to come against a network as
widespread as the proposed EV charging network of the near future, specially trained technicians must
employ the latest encryption protocols, authentication approaches, and secure communication channels.
These cybersecurity best practices work to safeguard the charging infrastructure from unauthorized
access that could bring the entire network down.

In addition, initiatives that seek to strengthen the EV charging infrastructure must include the integration
of cybersecurity standards industry-wide. The creation and implementation of standards across the entire
expanded network will ensure compliance and reliability, no matter the manufacturer or network.

Going forward, the expanded EV charging infrastructure will require advanced monitoring and detection
of vulnerabilities that could lead to issues across the network. Measures such as AI-aided monitoring or
digital twin technology could allow cybersecurity professionals to anticipate issues before they become
catastrophic.

Lastly, any government initiatives that seek to expand the security of the EV charging network must
include allowances for research and development. One constant of the sustainability movement is
chance, and innovations are emerging at breakneck speed. Cybersecurity technologies such as firmware
updates and ongoing solutions such as better intrusion detection systems will need to keep pace with the
EV charging market.

On the road to secure energy independence

In the race toward zero emissions and more energy independence, all signs point to the US being on the
right track. Cybersecurity for the EV charging infrastructure, both current and future, will play a critical
role as we work toward more sustainable transportation.

A secure charging network will build trust in EV drivers. The current EV infrastructure has run up against
some reliability challenges, with studies showing that 20% is inoperable at any given time. With better
attention paid to training and deploying skilled technicians to support the current and planned charging
network, reliability will improve over time. If the network's security can be included in those improvements,
EV drivers will begin to have more faith in the network as a whole.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – June 2024 Edition 240
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