Protecting electricity distribution networks against cyber threats requires close cooperation across the energy sector, with cybersecurity integrated into infrastructure modernization from the earliest design stages, Mihaela Rodica Suciu, CEO of Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania (DEER), said at the opening of the fourth edition of the Energy Cybersecurity Forum in Cluj-Napoca.
Welcoming participants to the annual event, Suciu highlighted the growing interest in energy cybersecurity, reflected in the attendance of both returning participants and many new stakeholders.
“Only by working together can we protect ourselves against attackers and ensure a secure network that can withstand their attempts to disrupt it,” Suciu said.
She emphasized that, while grid modernization, digitalization and investment remain key priorities for DEER, these efforts cannot succeed without robust cybersecurity measures embedded from the project design stage.
“Protecting distribution networks and ensuring their cybersecurity is a fundamental management responsibility and a key factor in maintaining continuity of electricity supply,” she stressed.
Suciu also called on energy sector executives and representatives of public authorities to recognize the urgency of implementing effective security solutions, warning that the reliability of electricity supply cannot be postponed until the next budget cycle.
“Security of supply cannot wait for the next budget. We need solutions today, perhaps even yesterday. We need commitment, and we need you to understand that without such solutions, we cannot even talk about electricity, whether cheap or expensive,” she said.
According to the DEER CEO, the functioning of the entire electricity system — from generation and transmission to distribution — depends on the active involvement of all stakeholders and their commitment to protecting critical infrastructure.
Looking ahead to the forum’s discussions, Suciu said that DEER’s team was ready to learn from experts, explore new technologies and identify practical solutions that could be applied to the company’s operations to strengthen network security.
“We are like sponges these days, absorbing solutions and looking for ways to apply them in our field of activity and protect our networks,” she noted.
Concluding her remarks, Suciu underlined the broader economic and social importance of energy cybersecurity, emphasizing that protecting electricity networks also means safeguarding Romania’s economy and public confidence.
“By protecting our networks, we protect Romania’s economy and the trust of Romanian citizens,” she said.
The fourth edition of the Energy Cybersecurity Forum, organized by DEER, takes place on October 29–30, 2026, in Cluj-Napoca, bringing together representatives of public authorities, energy companies, cybersecurity specialists and academia to discuss the protection and resilience of critical energy infrastructure.