PQC Migration for Electric, Gas, and Water Utilities
Utilities combine the OT/critical infrastructure challenges — long-lived devices, safety-case constraints, annual patching windows — with sector-specific regulatory overlays (NERC CIP) and smart grid infrastructure dependencies that add cryptographic complexity beyond traditional SCADA systems.
This course covers PQC migration for electric, gas, and water utilities, addressing the intersection of OT constraints, regulatory requirements, and the emerging smart grid cryptographic estate.
Who Should Take This Course
Utility CISOs, OT security managers, smart grid architects, NERC CIP compliance officers, and control systems engineers at electric, gas, and water utilities.
What You Will Learn
This course covers the quantum threat and PQC migration as it applies specifically to your sector, including sector-specific regulatory requirements, unique technical constraints, and practical migration strategies aligned with the PQC Migration Framework sector extensions.
Course Outline
Module 1 — Utility Cryptographic Landscape
SCADA and DCS cryptographic dependencies. Smart grid infrastructure: advanced metering, distribution automation, demand response. Substation automation protocols. Generation facility control systems. Water treatment SCADA specifics.
Module 2 — NERC CIP and Regulatory Compliance
NERC CIP requirements applied to PQC migration. Change management and configuration management implications. Compliance evidence requirements during cryptographic transition. State-level regulatory considerations for water utilities.
Module 3 — Smart Grid Migration
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) cryptographic migration. Distribution automation and the IEC 61850 protocol suite. Demand response system security. Distributed energy resource (DER) management and cryptographic dependencies.
Module 4 — Asset Lifecycle Integration
Integrating PQC migration with asset replacement cycles. Managing 20-30 year asset lifetimes. Gateway-based protection for legacy infrastructure. Budget planning within utility rate-case cycles.
Prerequisites
None. Sector experience is helpful but not required. For a broader PQC foundation, consider starting with Post-Quantum Foundation.
Certificate of Completion
Upon completion, you will receive a Quantum Academy certificate of completion. This is not a professional certification.