SSEN transmission joins EU’s cybersecurity collaboration

SSEN Transmission has joined the European Network for Cyber Security (ENCS) as an Information & Knowledge Sharing member to strengthen cooperation on grid cybersecurity across the UK and Europe.

The move reflects growing alignment in regulatory expectations and rising cyber threats to critical energy infrastructure.

Through ENCS, SSEN Transmission will work with transmission and distribution system operators across Europe, accessing shared research, technical guidance and workshops focused on operational technology security and best practice.

The partnership is designed to support faster learning and more consistent security standards across interconnected energy systems.

SSEN Transmission operates the high-voltage electricity network in the north of Scotland, making its infrastructure a key part of UK energy security.

The company said the collaboration will help it benchmark against wider European peers as cybersecurity requirements evolve across both UK and EU frameworks.

The announcement comes amid rising threat levels.

The National Cyber Security Centre reported 204 nationally significant cyber incidents in the 12 months to August 2025, a 130% increase on the previous year, including attacks affecting essential services.

Anjos Nijk, Managing Director of ENCS, said: “Cybersecurity is a shared challenge across Europe’s energy sector, and collaboration is fundamental to staying ahead of evolving threats.”

Iain Dougan, Head of Operational Technology and Cyber at SSEN Transmission, added: “Joining ENCS provides an opportunity to collaborate with peers across Europe at a time when regulatory expectations around energy network cybersecurity continue to evolve.”