The Hidden Risk in Grid Modernization: Your Communications Vendor

Utilities are being asked to do more with less at the exact moment the grid has never been more exposed:

• Cyberattacks against utilities jumped sharply in the last two years
• The workforce that built and maintained the grid for the last 30 years is retiring rapidly
• The infrastructure connecting it all — sensors, SCADA systems, substations, field crews — is expected to run reliably for decades 

Those three pressures can look like separate problems, but they aren’t. They all run through the same layer: the communications network connecting field assets back to the people and systems that operate the grid. If you get that layer wrong, it can make each of those worse in tandem. 

This is a short guide to what “getting it right” actually requires, and where INS and the Semtech® AirLink® platform fit into that picture. 

If you’d like an even deeper technical guide, download the full version here. 

The New Utility Security Requirement: Knowing Where Your Hardware Comes From

For years, utility cybersecurity meant protecting IT systems from the same threats facing any enterprise: phishing, malware, billing-data breaches. That’s no longer the full picture. 

As substations, sensors, and remote endpoints multiply across the grid, the attack surface has expanded well past the data center — and utility providers are seeing a meaningful year-over-year jump in cyberattacks as a result.

That shift means the technical side of security (encrypted communications, secure boot processes, tamper-resistant hardware) now has to be evaluated alongside a second question utilities haven’t always asked: where does this equipment come from, and who has access to it?

Geographic sourcing has become a legitimate cybersecurity variable. Federal guidance — including the Department of Defense’s list of flagged manufacturers under the National Defense Authorization Act — has put a spotlight on embedded communications devices as a potential entry point for foreign adversaries. Regulators and federal agencies have separately warned that state-sponsored actors have been positioning themselves inside critical infrastructure networks in advance of potential future disruption.

For a utility evaluating a new communications vendor, that means the RFP has to cover more ground than it used to:

• Edge Device Security: firmware integrity, secure boot, tamper-resistant hardware
• Cellular Interface Security: encrypted wireless communications and secure SIM management
• Data Transmission Security: end-to-end encryption and threat detection across every communication path
• Manufacturing Origin and Vendor Transparency: documented sourcing, not just a compliance checkbox

This is where INS’s role as an independent integrator matters. We’re not selling one hardware line — we’re helping utilities evaluate vendors against both technical capability and sourcing transparency, and building a network architecture around whichever combination holds up best in the field. That’s why we partner with manufacturers like Semtech, whose AirLink cellular routers are built and vetted with exactly these federal sourcing and security requirements in mind.

The INS + Semtech Partnership

Automation Is Closing the Utility Workforce Gap

The other pressure utilities are managing is quieter but just as consequential: the people who know the grid best are retiring, and there isn’t a comparable wave of talent behind them. That’s pushing utilities toward automation faster than many planned for — not as a cost-cutting move, but as a way to keep field operations covered. 

Automation at the edge is only as good as the network underneath it. A sensor that can detect an abnormal pressure reading is only useful if it can reliably transmit that alert — including in the exact remote, off-grid conditions where utility infrastructure tends to live. 

Done well, this looks like: 

• Edge devices that stay dormant to conserve power and activate automatically when a threshold is crossed
• Automated alerts reaching operators without a truck roll
• Equipment parameters adjusting in real time to extend maintenance windows
• Routine reporting handled by the system instead of a technician’s clipboard

None of that works on a network with gaps. It’s also part of why low-power hardware matters more in utility deployments than almost anywhere else — a router that draws too much power either shortens battery life, forces an oversized solar array, or becomes a reliability risk of its own. That’s a common constraint on remote utility sites, and it’s a big part of why AirLink’s low-power design has held up in solar and off-grid utility deployments over time.

See an example of AirLink in action

What Future-Ready Utility Infrastructure Actually Requires

Utilities almost never get a clean slate. Most mid-to-large operators are running a mix of older private radio, legacy SCADA equipment, and newer public cellular — sometimes all three on the same site. Any new communications investment has to work with that mix.

A future-ready utility communications foundation generally needs to check a few boxes: 

• Legacy Integration: serial interfaces and protocol support that connect to equipment that’s been in service for decades
• Multi-Network Flexibility: the ability to run on 5G, private LTE, and other connectivity options as availability and needs shift
• Edge Computing: local processing for real-time decisions, not just data collection
• Redundancy and Failover: uptime that doesn’t depend on a single path staying up

The 4G-to-5G transition utilities are undergoing is a good test case. Ripping and replacing routers every time a network generation shifts isn’t realistic at utility scale. Semtech’s 5G RedCap-capable AirLink routers are built around that exact constraint: deploy today on existing 4G infrastructure, and transition to 5G later without swapping hardware. It’s a small design choice with an outsized impact on total cost of ownership over a decade-plus asset life.

Learn more about 5G RedCap here

The Bottom Line for Utility Decision-Makers

Cybersecurity, workforce constraints, and infrastructure age can each be tackled in isolation — but utilities that treat their communications network as the connective layer across all three tend to get more out of every dollar they spend. That’s the conversation INS has with every utility customer, and it’s the same thinking behind our long-standing partnership with Semtech: rugged, low-power, security-vetted hardware, built into a network architecture designed for how utilities actually operate. 

If you’d like a deeper technical breakdown behind the trends covered here, Semtech put together a full playbook on modern utility communications — you can read it below.

GET THE GUIDE

FAQs

What makes utility grid communications a cybersecurity issue, not just an IT issue?

As substations, sensors, and remote endpoints multiply across the grid, the attack surface extends well beyond the data center into operational technology (OT). Utilities are seeing a real year-over-year rise in cyberattacks as a result, which means communications infrastructure — from the edge device to the data center — needs to be secured end to end. 

Why does vendor sourcing matter for utility communications equipment?

Federal guidance has flagged embedded communication devices from certain manufacturers as a potential security risk for critical infrastructure. Utilities now need to evaluate communications vendors on manufacturing origin and supply chain transparency, not just technical specifications.

How does automation help utilities manage workforce shortages?

Automation lets a smaller field team cover more ground — edge devices can monitor conditions, send alerts, and even adjust equipment parameters without a technician on site. This depends entirely on having reliable connectivity at the edge to carry those alerts and commands.

Why is low-power hardware important for utility field deployments?

Many utility field sites run on solar power with limited capacity. Cellular routers with high power draw either shorten battery life or require oversized solar infrastructure. Low-power routers, like Semtech's AirLink line, are built to run reliably on constrained power budgets.

What is 5G RedCap and why does it matter for utilities?

5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) is a 5G technology tier built for IoT and industrial use cases that don't need full 5G performance or power draw. It lets utilities keep running on existing 4G infrastructure today and shift to 5G later without replacing hardware.

How does INS help utilities evaluate communications vendors?

As an independent integrator, INS evaluates vendors on both technical capability and sourcing transparency, then designs a network architecture around what actually fits a utility's environment rather than defaulting to a single hardware line.

About the Author

Jared Jefferson, Vice President of Product Management As Vice President of Product Management at INS, Jared Jefferson oversees the vendor and technology strategy behind the company's connectivity and networking portfolio. Jared has spent over 16 years at INS, starting in direct sales before moving into product leadership, giving him a ground-level view of what utility and industrial customers actually need from their network infrastructure. He holds a B.S. in Business, Distribution Management from Baylor University.