From Silos to Systems
From Silos to Systems
As threats to critical energy infrastructure continue to grow more complex, natural gas utilities are increasingly recognizing that security is not a standalone function, but rather a shared responsibility that depends on coordination, planning and trusted partnerships.
That philosophy recently earned Avangrid national recognition. In November 2025, the company’s Corporate Security and Resilience Office received Homeland Security Today’s 2025 Holiday Hero Award for Excellence in Information Sharing – Corporate, honoring its collaborative approach to security and resilience across utility operations serving millions of customers.
“This award reflects the dedication of our Corporate Security and Resilience Office and the strong partnerships we’ve built to safeguard our infrastructure and ensure reliable service for the communities we serve,” said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda.
While the award highlights one company’s efforts, the underlying practices reflect broader lessons relevant to natural gas utilities of all sizes.
Avangrid leaders point to information sharing—not just technology—as a cornerstone of effective security. Rather than operating in isolation, the company emphasizes routine engagement with federal, state, local and private-sector partners to exchange threat intelligence and situational awareness.
That approach helps utilities move from reactive security measures to proactive risk management. By staying connected to government agencies, industry groups and peer utilities, companies can identify emerging risks earlier, benchmark practices, validate internal assessments, participate in joint exercises and coordinate responses when incidents occur. Building those relationships in advance allows utilities to respond more effectively when conditions change quickly and enhances preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, including cyber incidents, physical threats, natural disasters, and supply chain disruptions.
Another hallmark of Avangrid’s approach is the integration of corporate security into broader resilience planning. Rather than treating physical security, cybersecurity, emergency response and business continuity as separate disciplines, the company aligns them under a unified framework.
From infrastructure investments to workforce preparedness, this integration supports more consistent decision-making across operations and helps ensure that security considerations are embedded in planning processes. For natural gas utilities managing assets, expanding systems or evolving regulatory requirements, aligning security and resilience planning can reduce gaps and improve coordination during disruptions.
Avangrid’s experience highlights several practical lessons for the natural gas industry:
- Make information sharing routine, not reactive. Regular engagement builds trust and improves the quality of intelligence exchanged.
- Integrate security into enterprise planning. Aligning security with resilience, operations and risk management strengthens overall preparedness.
- Leverage partnerships. Collaboration across government and industry expands visibility and response capabilities.
- Focus on people and processes. Technology is important, but leadership commitment and organizational coordination remain critical.
As threats evolve, recognition programs like the Homeland Security Holiday Hero Awards serve as a reminder that effective security is built through collaboration, planning and shared responsibility. For natural gas utilities, adopting these principles can help protect infrastructure, employees and the communities they serve—while reinforcing the industry’s role as a trusted steward of critical energy systems.