Download PSWG Closed Door Proposal - Western Electricity Coordinating

Closed Session Proposal for the
Physical Security Work Group
Physical Security Work Group
April 12, 2017
155 North 400 West, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103-1114
WESTERN ELECTRICITY COORDINATING COUNCIL
155 North 400 West, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84103-1114
Closed Session Proposal for the Physical Security Work Group
Executive Summary
The Physical Security Work Group (PSWG) is requesting permission from the WECC Board of Directors
(the Board) and the Operating Committee (OC) to hold closed sessions to discuss information that is
confidential pertaining to physical protection of grid assets.
Introduction
The PSWG has a need for closed sessions as defined in the WECC Board Policy on Closed Sessions for
Member Groups (Closed Session Policy). The Closed Session Policy permits closed sessions “to prevent
the public disclosure of information identified in Section 7.6.1 of the Bylaws”; including:
“to receive and discuss any information that is privileged, trade secret, cyber security, critical energy
infrastructure information (as defined by the FERC), protected from public disclosure by law or that
the Board determines should be confidential in order to protect a legitimate public interest.”
Physical Security Work Group Charter
The PSWG is a work group established by the Situational Awareness and Security Monitoring
Subcommittee (SASMS) and the OC.
The purpose of the PSWG is to promote advanced physical security designs and related best practices. The
charter also specifies that the PSWG shall, among other things:
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Serve as an expert advisory group regarding physical security to all WECC Committees,
Subcommittees and Working Groups.
Develop, periodically review, and revise physical security related policies and documents for
WECC
Represent and coordinate regional physical security concerns and positions with the NERC
Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee (CIPC).
Provide a communication path for sharing physical security related information and best
practices.
Work with WECC members to identify physical security related issues and needs.
Conduct forums, workshops, and/or meetings related to physical security matters.
Provide opportunities for members to network, interact, and share physical security knowledge
and/or experience.
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Closed Session Proposal for the Physical Security Work Group
Review member Security Practices
The PSWG holds discussions and works on documents and diagrams that may include information
NERC Registered Entities are required to protect under the Critical Information and Protection (CIP)
Standard.
Examples of these are:
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Security guidelines and diagrams
Security incidents
Counter threat methods
Security probe techniques and methods used by external security consultants to test for the
ability to penetrate, compromise, and/or disrupt critical cyber assets
Potential and existing security vulnerabilities that have not yet been remediated
Drawings, data, and physical locations of critical cyber security assets and points of access to
related critical cyber assets
Security perimeter external interfaces.
Control Center physical and logical designs and layouts
Security program details
Execution
To meet the responsibilities described in the charter and avoid violating NERC Registered Entity Critical
Infrastructure Protection standards, the PSWG propose that portions of their meetings be closed to the
public to protect necessary information.
The PSWG is committed to follow all the requirements in the Board Policy on Closed Sessions and
other best practices regarding closed sessions including:
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The Chair of the PSWG will provide agendas prior to their meetings that specify which portions
of the meetings are public and which are private.
Discussions and work conducted during the closed portions of the meetings will be limited to
protected topics and information.
Conclusion
PSWG respectfully requests Board permission to conduct closed sessions to discuss how best to
protect critical grid infrastructure as described above and fulfill its responsibility under the PSWG
charter.
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