Episode 76 | Protected Plants | Total Tactical Defence Protection Services, Inc.
Security is a critical component of the energy sector, particularly the nuclear industry.
Phrantceena Halres had been CEO and Chair of Total Tactical Defence Protection Services, Inc. (TTDUS) since 2002. She says she was first approached by Duke Energy after 9/11 to develop a new business plan for protecting their nuclear assets. The company then moved on to protect lignite coal plants and new nuclear construction projects.
Phrantceena describes nuclear security as "short of the presidential detail." Recently emphasis has moved beyond guys with guns. "We discovered where the industry is evolving with the vulnerabilities of the grid," she says, "With cyber-terrorism, is a number-one driver for cyber-security measures to be put in place."
TTDUS is currently developing a new model to address cyber-security. "We are an extended arm to bridge the gaps that exist," she says. "We augment the existing IT departments within the utilities. And we also augment the law enforcement and nuclear security leaders."
The company has recruited hundreds of military veterans and former law enforcement to provide security for the nation's utility industry. She says the pre-vetting mental, psychological, physical, and behavior-based.
Recent attacks on military in Pensacola by a Saudi officer show how important social media can be in preventing possible attacks from even the most strenuously vetted personnel.
"We have learned through experience that we have to pay more attention to those sensitive areas such as social media," she says, adding that the energy industry has been "a little behind" monitoring this activity.
With more renewable, storage, and less distributed generation making its way into the portfolio, Phrantceena believes the lessons learned from large-scale power production has a place.
"I'm a firm believer that power transmission and distribution, as long as any power source is connected to that grid," she says. "We have to provide security based on the same principles as you would anything else that’s connected to the grid."
Pointing to the 2013 sniper attacks on a Silicon Valley substation shows just how vulnerable the grid itself can be, according to Phrantceena. She believes that moving more of these transmission and distribution lines underground would be a secure move.
Phrantceena is also very active in charity work. Though she has relocated to Florida, she is very active in North Carolina's Coach Tate Foundation, named after her father. One of the missions, she says, is to open a dialog about planning for what an unforeseen, long-term (24-48 mos.) power outage would look like.
"One of the tenets of our charity is empowering our families," she says. "I think once we get there, we'll find a good balance in managing all of our security in the world."
Useful Links: