Practical AI for NERC CIP Compliance

Transforming NERC CIP Compliance: The Cognitive Governance Revolution

Watch Recap of our Webinar below!

The energy sector is at a critical inflection point. Rising demand, sophisticated cyber threats, and increasingly complex compliance requirements have created unprecedented challenges for utilities striving to maintain NERC CIP compliance. On November 12, our CTO, Bill Guinn, shared groundbreaking insights during our webinar on how responsible, explainable AI is revolutionizing compliance—from manual audits to continuous readiness.

The Paradigm Shift in Compliance Management

Traditional compliance approaches often require embedding requirements into every workflow—a process that is time-consuming and fragile when regulations change or systems evolve.

Bill explained: *“Instead of trying to keep up with NERC CIP and manually build requirements into every workflow, we're introducing compliance as a governing engine that sits above all workflows. This cognitive engine evaluates workflow execution from a compliance perspective, ensuring adherence every step of the way.”*

This marks a fundamental shift: compliance is no longer the last mile. It becomes an integrated, proactive component of operations—continuously monitoring and providing real-time guidance.

Responsible AI with Human Oversight

Trust is paramount when applying AI to critical infrastructure. Our approach is built on three core principles:

- Human-in-the-loop control: AI acts as a co-pilot, not a controller. You design and approve workflows; AI analyzes and flags potential compliance issues.
- Complete transparency: Every AI decision is explainable, with clear references to NERC CIP requirements, impacted systems, and relevant metrics.
- Continuous learning: The platform creates a feedback loop, learning from past changes to prevent recurring issues.

Bill emphasized: “We’re not talking about AI controlling your workflows. We’re talking about AI injecting intelligence into analyzing them. You remain in control.”

Practical Application: Continuous Compliance

Bill demonstrated how the cognitive engine handles a firmware update request:

1. Upon creating a change request, AI parses the description, identifies BES cyber assets, and cross-references NERC CIP requirements.
2. It assesses completeness, highlighting gaps and offering recommendations before you proceed.
3. As details are added, AI evaluates vulnerabilities, integrates vendor advisories, and generates risk assessments mapped to specific controls.
4. During implementation, AI monitors execution, validates adherence to approved procedures, and creates a digital compliance record.
5. Post-implementation, AI verifies success and learns from the process to improve future assessments.

The result? Compliance becomes continuous, with evidence collected automatically throughout the lifecycle.

On-Premise, Secure, and Under Your Control

Our webinar poll confirmed what we’ve consistently heard: utilities overwhelmingly prefer on-premise AI deployment. We’re designing our solution to meet this need.

Bill noted: “You need AI on-premise, running in your data center under your control—not in the cloud. We can deliver a model where nothing ever leaves your environment.”

This ensures sensitive data remains protected while delivering the benefits of AI-powered compliance monitoring. Full transparency regarding model origins and governance addresses the unique security concerns of the energy sector.

Moving Forward Together

As we prepare to launch our next-generation AI platform in early 2026, we’re forming an Executive Advisory Council to ensure our solution meets real-world utility needs. This collaborative approach will set a new standard for responsible AI in regulated environments.

Interested in joining the Council’s monthly sessions or learning more about cognitive compliance? Contact us today. Together, we can transform compliance from a manual burden into a continuous, intelligent process that strengthens both security and operational efficiency.

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