OREANDA-NEWS. ENGIE and Thales have signed a partnership to enhance the security of the energy Group’s IT infrastructures. Thales will oversee the security of ENGIE’s information system 24/7 for a period of five years.

The aim of this global partnership between ENGIE and Thales is to anticipate the evolution of cyber threats and thereby provide the energy Group with an optimally secure environment, particularly in the industrial field.

Between smart grids, predictive maintenance, and the Internet of things, ENGIE is dealing with more and more flows of information. With cyber threats growing (+51% in France and +38% around the world in 20151), ENGIE and Thales have decided to combine their expertise into a global Security Operation Center (SOC) whose goal is to maintain the very highest capacity for preventing and responding to these threats.

This monitoring center will be based in Elancourt (Yvelines, France) and on the ENGIE premises in Saint-Ouen (Seine-Saint-Denis, France).

ENGIE CEO Isabelle Kocher declared “I am very proud to sign this partnership with Thales, a group with a global reputation for its cyber security expertise. Digital technologies, which are a pillar of the current energy revolution, are a strategic priority for us. With the world changing so rapidly, it is essential to ensure the cyber security of our IT system.”

Thales Chairman and CEO Patrice Caine added “Our organizations are currently undergoing a digital transformation, a major driver of growth and efficiency. We are proud to have signed this partnership with ENGIE, a perfect example of how Thales is taking action to ensure the security of the most critical corporate and industrial information systems.”

The partnership reflects ENGIE’s desire to accelerate its digital transformation, as does the creation in June of ENGIE Digital, a center providing tools and skills to support all of the Group’s business units in their own change.

Digital technologies are central to ENGIE’s 3-year transformation plan, with the Group aiming to reshape its portfolio by focusing on its three métiers: low-carbon electricity production, energy infrastructures, and integrated solutions for its customers (residential, business, and public agency). To do this, the Group has launched a €15 billion portfolio rotation program and €22 billion in investments. ENGIE is also planning to allocate €1.5 billion over 3 years in new businesses and digital technologies.