Trusting the Grid Edge: Securing Connected Devices with UL 2941

As energy systems become increasingly connected, the number of intelligent field devices, including protection relays, remote terminal units (RTUs), smart sensors and gateways, is rapidly expanding.

While these devices more efficient operations, they can also introduce cybersecurity risks that can impact uptime, reliability and safety.

In many cases, these edge devices (or end points) represent the initial point of compromise, where attackers can manipulate data and control signals, leading to operational disruption and risks to safety-critical processes. UL 2941, the Standard for Cybersecurity of Distributed Energy and Inverter-Based Resources, helps build trust.

This webinar explores why device-level security is foundational to operational resilience and how organizations can establish trust in their connected assets.

We will introduce UL 2941, a new cybersecurity standard for network-connected, software-operated devices, and its basic and advanced cybersecurity requirements.

We explain how UL 2941 forms device-layer security as part of an integrated, multilayer system and organizational — rather than checklist-based — approach to cybersecurity. From both a regulatory compliance and operational resilience point of view, UL 2941 helps form the foundation for protecting communications, systems and critical infrastructure operations.

What we will cover

• Why connected field devices are a primary cybersecurity risk in energy systems
• How device-level vulnerabilities can impact grid operations and safety
• What makes UL 2941 different from traditional checklist-based standards
• How third-party testing builds trust in connected energy devices
• How device security fits into a multilayered cybersecurity and compliance strategy

Agenda (60 minutes total)

• The changing threat landscape in energy systems
• Why device security is the weakest link
• Introducing UL 2941: A new approach to device security
• Test to trust: How UL Solutions evaluates device security
• How a multilayered cybersecurity approach supports operational resilience
• Live Q&A session

Who should attend

This webinar is designed for:

• Energy utilities and system operators
• Grid and substation engineers
• OT and cybersecurity professionals
• Compliance, risk and resilience leaders
• Device manufacturers and integrators

Speakers

Sjoerd Willemsen, Principal Engineer

Sjoerd Willemsen lives and works in Arnhem, Netherlands, and holds a bachelor’s degree in embedded systems automation. He is a principal engineer at UL Solutions specializing in cybersecurity and interoperability, with a strong focus on power systems and industrial communication. Willemsen is an experienced professional who has dedicated his career to mastering the technical and governance aspects of interoperability.

Willemsen actively contributes to international standardization through his participation in IEC committees, including IEC TC 57, where he works in WG10 and WG15. He is also involved in IEC/ISO JSEG 15, addressing standardization needs and opportunities related to the metaverse and emerging digital technologies, and in TC 2941, focusing on the cybersecurity of distributed energy resources and inverter‑based resources.

Daniel Carmel, Product Manager

Daniel Carmel joins UL Solutions from London, with a background in engineering, safety, quality and assurance across leading aerospace and defense organizations, including Rolls-Royce, Lockheed Martin and MBDA Systems. His experience spans the full life cycle of complex, safety-critical systems, working with major industrial customers and regulatory authorities across the U.K., Europe and the United States.

Since 2017, Carmel has specialized in product safety, quality assurance, cybersecurity and regulatory compliance, supporting organizations in highly regulated environments. He has served as a lead auditor and adviser across aviation and information security standards, helping OEMs, systems integrators and operators align their operations with frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST and IEC 62443.

Prior to UL Solutions, Carmel led engineering and manufacturing assurance activities at LRQA, contributing to the development of new certification and assurance services. At UL Solutions, he focuses on helping industrial, energy and automation customers across the supply chain secure critical control systems, with particular emphasis on the intersection of industrial cybersecurity, functional safety and product strategy.