Onapsis, a leading provider of business application security and compliance solutions, has announced its partnership with Snohomish County Public Utility District (SNOPUD) to bolster the public utility agency's SAP security and strategic threat intelligence. SNOPUD has chosen Onapsis as its security partner as it embarks on its Connect Up program, a three-year initiative aimed at upgrading all meters in homes and businesses.
The utility sector has become a prime target for cybercriminals due to the valuable data stored within SAP applications. With cyberattacks on utility infrastructure on the rise, it has become critical for companies like SNOPUD to prioritize the security of their business applications. The partnership with Onapsis will enable SNOPUD to ensure uninterrupted services for the residents of Snohomish County.
Utility companies face an increasing frequency of cyber threats, with the average cost of a data breach in the energy sector alone reaching $4.72 million. The exposure of enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications like SAP in such a vulnerable sector poses significant risks. Additionally, any business disruption in the utility sector can have immeasurable human impacts. However, these companies often lack the necessary resources and struggle to prioritize security while undergoing digital transformation initiatives.
Through the collaboration, SNOPUD will leverage the Onapsis platform to secure new business processes associated with the Connect Up program. The platform will also safeguard the personal data of SNOPUD's 373,000 energy customers and 23,000 water customers. By utilizing the Onapsis solution, SNOPUD can receive recommendations for patch prioritization and automate vulnerability remediation, allowing their staff to focus on other critical projects.
SNOPUD recognizes the significance of security and views it as a collaborative effort. The partnership with Onapsis provides an opportunity for SNOPUD to work closely with experts in the field and benefit from Onapsis's extensive utility customer network.
The Onapsis Platform is backed by threat intelligence from the Onapsis Research Labs, a team of renowned security experts and leading contributors to the SAP product Security Response Team. Its comprehensive and SaaS-based solution will pave the way for SNOPUD to prioritize security in its digital transformation journey.
Kellie Snyder, Chief Customer Officer at Onapsis, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the importance of SAP security as a critical component of overall security strategies in the utility sector. The collaboration between SNOPUD and Onapsis signifies a significant milestone for the industry, emphasizing the shift from considering SAP security a "nice-to-have" to an essential element of security strategies.
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