National Cybersecurity Month: CoServ’s Digital Defenders at Work

For almost 90 years, CoServ Members have entrusted us to deliver reliable energy. Fulfilling this promise in today’s interconnected world requires more than just maintaining the physical infrastructure of poles, wires, and pipelines – it also requires diligent protection of the digital systems and software that make CoServ’s reliable service possible.

CoServ Information Security (InfoSec) Specialists work behind the scenes to protect sensitive information, essential technology systems, and the critical controls that manage energy delivery. While InfoSec leads the charge, every CoServ Employee is the first line of defense in protecting systems and Member data. This is reinforced with year-round training.

“Our approach to security is multi-faceted, using a layered defense approach—similar to securing a home with multiple safeguards and awareness,” said Michael Sontag, CoServ’s Director of Information Security. “Our digital environment is continuously monitored for any unusual activity so our team can respond quickly.”

InfoSec reviews cybersecurity logs for any suspicious activity, monitors network traffic for anomalies or unexpected data flows, responds to alerts, conducts regular vulnerability scans, applies software patches, and hunts for hidden risks.

In addition to the team’s rigorous monitoring, CoServ aligns with industry practices from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Recognized frameworks and risk-based practices guide InfoSec
to ensure resilience and compliance. The team partners with departments across the co-op to integrate security into every layer of operations.

“Protecting our information systems and operational controls is absolutely essential to CoServ’s core mission,” Michael said. “CoServ takes responsibility seriously and is continuously maturing our security posture through risk-based improvements. We’re Investing in Tomorrow by safeguarding the digital systems that keep energy reliable for our members.”