Cybersecurity & Risk Advisory

Plenty of firms offer fractional Chief Information Officer (CIO) or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) services. Few understand the reliability standards, regulatory pressure, and operational realities that come with running a utility. E Source's advisors have worked inside utilities, not general IT or security firms. We understand the importance of Operational Technology (OT).

What is Cybersecurity & Risk Advisory?
E Source's fractional CIO and CISO offering is built specifically for utilities. It covers cybersecurity advisory, technology strategy, risk assessment, compliance, and incident readiness, grounded in utility operating experience and industry expertise offering pragmatic and practical guidance and solutions.

Why utilities choose E Source

Fractional CIO and CISO services are common. Utility-specific expertise is not. Our practice is led by a former utility CIO and CISO backed by the functional and technical expertise of E Source resources.

Utility Industry Practitioners
Our advisors have worked inside utilities as subject matter experts, executives, and decision makers, not as generalist IT or security consultants.
Regulatory & Reliability Fluency
Real fluency in NERC CIP, AWIA, AMI, DERMS, NIST and OT/IT convergence.
Decades of Utility Benchmarking
Direct access to E Source's utility research, benchmarking, and peer network.

The industry challenge

Technology decisions are growing more expensive to reverse, while cyber and compliance risk keeps escalating, often with no senior IT or security leadership in place.

Accelerating Modernization Pressure
AMI, cloud, and customer system investments force high-stakes IT decisions with little room for missteps.
Nation-State & Ransomware Threats
Evolving cyber risks are now material operational considerations requiring real preparedness.
No Dedicated IT or Security Leadership
Without senior oversight, vendor accountability weakens and risk rises across cost, delivery, and outcomes.
Competing Priorities
Limited budgets, new regulations, and a need to maintain affordability are real-world issues utilities must manage.
IT + OT Convergence
Connecting IT and OT broadens the risk landscape across systems, vendors, and the cloud.

Program impacts

Outcomes utilities see from working with E Source.

20-40% Improved Capital Efficiency

Through stronger vendor accountability and selection.

30-50% Reduction in Cyber Risk Exposure
Through prioritized controls and an executable roadmap.

2-3x Faster Project Delivery
Through clear governance and accountability.

<90 days to a Roadmap or Action Plan
Practical plans, prioritized and delivered fast

A flexible, embedded engagement model

E Source advisors are embedded partners, not report writers. We pair utilities with executive-level technology and security expertise, delivered by utility industry practitioners rather than generalist consultants, at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. Scope is flexible: a one-time assessment, an ongoing advisory retainer, or both, backed by direct access to E Source's utility research and benchmarking.

Cybersecurity FAQs

What is Cybersecurity & Risk Advisory?: E Source's fractional CIO and CISO offering for utilities: senior leadership, risk prioritization, and accountability across technology and security, without a full-time hire.

Which utilities benefit most from this service?: Mid-sized municipal and cooperative utilities that treat technology and cybersecurity as priorities but lack the budget or headcount for full-time CIO and CISO roles.

How is this different from other fractional CIO/CISO providers?: Most fractional-executive firms are generalists. E Source's advisors have utility operating experience and fluency in NERC CIP, AWIA, AMI, and OT/IT convergence, backed by decades of utility-specific research and benchmarking.

How is this different from hiring full-time staff?: Senior-level strategy and hands-on execution at a fraction of the cost, with flexible scope: a one-time assessment, an ongoing retainer, or both.

What results can utilities expect?: Typically a 20-40% improvement in capital efficiency, a 30-50% reduction in cyber risk exposure, and 2-3x faster project delivery.

Assess

Rapid review of posture, gaps, and vendor landscape.

Prioritize

A practical action plan tied to your objectives and budget.

Execute & Sustain

Ongoing support to execute projects, sustain progress and realize results.

Utility-specific technology and cybersecurity advisory, not generalist consulting.

Connect with our team to see how we can help you navigate cybersecurity and risk from planning through operation.