Texas Tech University to Lead Rural Electric Cybersecurity Initiative with DOE Grant

Texas Tech University has been granted a substantial $2.5 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to lead the development of a university-centered cybersecurity hub, aimed specifically at bolstering cybersecurity protocols within the rural electric sector. This funding initiative, constituting part of a broader $15 million investment by the DOE to establish six university-based cybersecurity centers across the nation, underscores the critical importance of fortifying the resilience of critical infrastructure against evolving cyber threats. Texas Tech's cybersecurity center will undertake comprehensive efforts to address various facets of cyber-physical attacks, encompassing detection, prevention, and recovery strategies. Leveraging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the energy sector and DOE National Laboratories, the initiative will also facilitate the development of advanced cybersecurity training programs. Stephen Bayne, Department Chair for the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Texas Tech, lauded the research project as a significant opportunity for Texas Tech's researchers and students to contribute meaningfully to the realm of cyber-physical security within the electrical power grid.