Running offshore wind infrastructure is a complex and challenging undertaking. These systems are expected to work quietly and reliably, often out of sight, while carrying a level of responsibility that only really becomes visible when something goes wrong.
As part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure (CNI), wind farms are also subject to growing regulation, designed to raise standards, improve resilience and protect communities.
Here’s how a UK-based developer and operator of offshore electricity transmission assets engaged with Arcanum to help make sense of its obligations under the UK Network and Information Systems (NIS) regulations and NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF).
As an Operator of Essential Services (OES), our client needs to show that its operational technology (OT) is being managed appropriately and that cyber risks are understood and managed to an appropriate level.
The client manages a wide portfolio of offshore transmission assets that connect wind farms into the national grid, known as Offshore Transmission Owners (OFTOs). These assets are critical to the UK’s renewable energy ambitions and sit under increasing regulatory pressures due to the catastrophic implications should they become subject to a cyber-attack.
The organisation first engaged with the Arcanum team to deepen its understanding of their responsibility as an OES and the application of the CAF to the OT estate, including strategies for ongoing compliance.
As Arcanum’s OT Cyber Consultant, Salma Aslam, explains:
“The client needed a clear and accurate OT scope, but overlapping IT/OT infrastructure made this difficult, particularly when translating that complexity into their CAF self‑assessment.”
Bringing Clarity to CAF OT Scope in a Converged IT/OT Environment
Arcanum supported the client in applying the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) across both OT and IT – clarifying overlaps, key considerations and the risks of incorrect scoping. We helped define the OT boundary, map convergence with IT and develop network diagrams aligned to the Purdue Model, giving teams a shared reference point and reducing ambiguity.
A structured scoping exercise established which systems, sites, and functions were in or out of scope for regulatory purposes, minimising inconsistent interpretations. We then facilitated workshops to guide teams through their regulatory duties, how existing processes align with requirements, and how to complete CAF self‑assessments. The focus was on building confidence, not adding unnecessary processes, and supporting a consistent organisational approach to risk.
We provided guidance on applying relevant standards including NIS, CAF, and ISA/IEC 62443, helping develop proportionate, well‑justified documentation around cyber security decisions.
By the end of the engagement, the client had a clearer, well‑documented OT scope, stronger internal understanding of regulatory expectations, and a more stable foundation for ongoing compliance and risk management, reducing reliance on informal knowledge and supporting secure, resilient offshore operations.
Our work has also helped the organisation think more clearly about how regulatory expectations should continue to be managed over time, even as people and projects change. Rather than relying on informal knowledge held by individuals, the engagement helped put some structure around how OT risk and regulatory considerations were discussed and recorded. This created a more stable starting point for ongoing regulatory engagement and supported the organisation’s wider role in maintaining secure and resilient offshore wind infrastructure.
As Arcanum’s OT Cyber Consultant, Salma Aslam, explains:
“In renewable energy, the hardest part of strengthening cyber resilience isn’t the technology, it’s defining the OT scope and self-assessment process with enough accuracy to reflect a converged IT/OT reality. Without clear boundaries, organisations struggle to apply the CAF consistently, and the compliance process becomes as complex as the systems it’s meant to protect.”
Find out more
If you would like to know more about how Arcanum can help your renewables organisation to assess risk and meet regulatory compliance requirements, get in touch.