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Microsoft for Energy and Resources
Drive innovation to achieve a sustainable future
Protecting and Strengthening Critical Infrastructure and Energy Operations
Many energy systems today, especially power and utilities infrastructure, are prone to persistent cyberattacks. Left unresolved, security risks can quickly spiral and complicate already-existing issues like technical debt, tool fatigue, and employee burnout. It’s a prime example of how technology can enhance human capabilities to create a secure energy supply. Several of the industry leaders we work with are leveraging generative AI to streamline security processes and improve security posture, allowing their security personnel to focus on the highest-priority work. For example, international power company Uniper relies on Microsoft Security Copilot to help their IT security personnel work smarter and faster. Microsoft Security Copilot immediately flags potential incidents, allowing them to identify and address risks up to twice as fast. It also helps them manage access and quickly compile new emergency plans based on current drafts. It can even create a list of inactive devices that pose potential security risks.
Improving Frontline Worker Productivity and Safety with Real-time Insights
The world runs on the products and services provided by millions of energy and resources workers. As the industry grapples with changing customer demands and pressures to reduce emissions, the workforce is undergoing a transformative shift to better accommodate these needs. But they also face gaps in areas like skilling and productivity that require strategy and innovation to overcome.
Streamlining Permitting and Automating Complex Utility Rate Case Workflows
In the energy and resources industry, permitting and rate case processing are common and necessary to adhere to important legal, financial, and environmental compliance and regulatory requirements. They can also be extremely costly and time-consuming, especially for nuclear energy permitting, which requires unique expertise and can often take many years and tens of millions of dollars to complete, and for complex utility rate cases, which require detailed data sources and documentation.
Finding Information Faster with AI Agents
As AI becomes more prevalent across global industry operations, we’re increasingly seeing the benefits and vast potential for supercharging productivity. AI agents, for example, can help users find the right information faster, and they can execute a specific set of tasks, allowing workers to spend more time on innovative and creative work. This will be a game-changer.
Explore More AI Innovation in Energy
At Microsoft, we’re committed to working with the global energy industry to accelerate the energy transition and enable a more secure, reliable, equitable, and sustainable future. Through our cloud-based data and AI solutions, energy leaders can accelerate their digital transformation to maximize value across their entire enterprise—and we’re here to support along the way. You can check out our additional resources to learn more about working with the Microsoft energy and resources industry team.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the importance of AI innovation in the energy sector, how it can help in protecting and strengthening critical infrastructure and energy operations, improving frontline worker productivity and safety, streamlining permitting and automating complex utility rate case workflows, and finding information faster with AI agents. We have also highlighted some of the AI innovations and solutions that Microsoft is offering to support the global energy industry in its transition to a more sustainable future.
FAQs
Q: What is the role of AI in the energy sector?
A: AI has the potential to revolutionize the energy sector by providing real-time insights, automating complex processes, and improving productivity and safety.
Q: How can AI help in protecting critical infrastructure and energy operations?
A: AI can help in protecting critical infrastructure and energy operations by identifying potential security risks, streamlining security processes, and improving security posture.
Q: What are some examples of AI innovations in the energy sector?
A: Some examples of AI innovations in the energy sector include the use of generative AI to streamline security processes, improve frontline worker productivity and safety, and automate complex utility rate case workflows.
Q: How can energy leaders accelerate their digital transformation?
A: Energy leaders can accelerate their digital transformation by leveraging cloud-based data and AI solutions, such as Microsoft’s Azure and Microsoft 365.
