What is the goal of NERC’s cybersecurity standards?

The primary goal of NERC’s cybersecurity standards is to protect against and mitigate cybersecurity risks to the electric grid. These standards establish essential requirements that utilities and other entities must follow to enhance the security and reliability of the bulk electric system. Addressing cybersecurity risks is crucial in today’s digital environment, where the grid is increasingly vulnerable to threats and attacks. The focus is on creating a robust framework that ensures the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of critical systems and information.

While promoting transparency in operations, encouraging information sharing, and improving employee training are all beneficial practices in the realm of cybersecurity, the core objective of NERC’s standards specifically targets the protection of the power grid from cybersecurity threats and ensuring a resilient infrastructure. Thus, option B accurately reflects the essence of what NERC aims to achieve with its cybersecurity standards.