August 2022

By Swati Dora, Prolifics Associate Client Success Leader

In February 2021, as a Texas resident, I experienced firsthand the devastation of the historic winter storm. Living without power for a week meant enduring water, food, and heat shortages. The crisis, which cost an estimated $195 billion in damages, served as a stark reminder of the fragility of our energy and utility (E&U) systems. It also underscored the urgent need for modernization, not just for resilience but also for shaping the sustainable, customer-centric future we aspire to.

Fast-forward to 2025, and the energy and utilities sector is at a pivotal juncture. Capgemini’s 2025 Energy and Utilities Trends identifies five major themes: decarbonization, digital acceleration, customer engagement, workforce transformation, and ecosystem partnerships. For organizations, this isn’t just about “keeping the lights on”; it’s about rethinking infrastructure, technology, and business models to meet evolving demands while achieving net-zero goals.

At Prolifics, we see modernization not as an option, but as a business imperative. Here’s how today’s trends are reshaping the future of E&U, and how your organization can lead in this transformation.

Why Modernization Matters Now

Most electricity grids were designed decades ago, long before the era of climate change concerns, renewable integration, and the explosion of electric vehicles (EVs). As decentralization and digitization accelerate, legacy grids are under immense pressure. The move toward distributed energy resources (DERs), two-way power flows, and intelligent energy management requires robust, future-ready platforms.

This is where Advanced Distributed Management Solutions (ADMS) shine. ADMS brings together IT and OT (operational technology) systems to detect and manage outages quickly, integrate renewables seamlessly, and provide resilience against extreme weather events. Yet ADMS is only one piece of the puzzle. True modernization spans across data management, integration, analytics, and cybersecurity.

The Four Pillars of Modernization

1. Master Data Management (MDM)
   E&U enterprises are data-rich but insight-poor. With information scattered across decades-old silos, new sources such as EV charging data and IoT sensors often go underutilized. MDM ensures that organizations unify, cleanse, and optimize data, enabling smarter decision-making and better regulatory compliance.
2. Seamless Data Integration
   Applications deliver their true value when interconnected. Imagine outage information in a CRM automatically updating the Outage Management System while triggering a work order in SAP. Enterprise integration platforms make this orchestration possible, reducing delays and elevating operational efficiency.
3. Analytics for Grid Optimization
   Predictive and real-time analytics empower utilities to balance demand and supply more effectively. By leveraging IoT-driven insights, organizations can better forecast outages, optimize grid performance, and enhance asset reliability, all critical in a world where renewable intermittency is the norm.
4. Cybersecurity as the Frontline
   The rise of IT/OT convergence increases the attack surface for cyber threats. Advanced threat detection, real-time monitoring, and proactive risk mitigation are no longer optional, they are the foundation of trust and resilience in the modern E&U ecosystem.

Tangible Business Value

Modernization is not just about technology; it’s about measurable outcomes:

• Extending Asset Lifespan: By integrating real-time asset data, utilities can plan maintenance proactively, reduce downtime, and maximize returns on capital-intensive infrastructure.
• Workforce Safety and Productivity: From UAVs inspecting transmission lines to low-code platforms simplifying field operations, modernization enhances employee engagement while reducing risks.
• Superior Customer Experience: Today’s customers demand more than just reliable power, they expect insights into usage, sustainable options, and seamless digital engagement. Incentives for EV adoption, rebates for solar, and real-time consumption dashboards are becoming standard expectations.

Energy & Utilities Trends 2025: A Closer Look

According to Capgemini, five themes will define the sector in 2025:

1. Decarbonization at Scale: Utilities must accelerate renewable integration and grid modernization to achieve net-zero targets. This means more investment in DERs, storage, and green hydrogen.
2. Digital Acceleration: AI, IoT, and automation will be at the core of operational efficiency, from predictive maintenance to customer personalization.
3. Customer Centricity: Utilities will compete not just on rates, but on customer experience, transparent billing, tailored energy insights, and faster service resolution.
4. Workforce Evolution: Upskilling employees to handle advanced digital systems and field automation tools will be a top priority.
5. Ecosystem Collaboration: No single utility can modernize in isolation. Partnerships with technology providers, regulators, and communities will define success.

How Prolifics Can Help

At Prolifics, we partner with leading E&U organizations to accelerate their modernization journeys. With expertise in integration, data management, AI-driven analytics, and cybersecurity, we help utilities transform legacy systems into agile, intelligent ecosystems.

• ADMS Implementation with Agile Methodology – enabling scalable, long-term resilience.
• DataOps and MDM solutions – ensuring clean, connected, and actionable data.
• AI-powered analytics platforms – delivering predictive insights for grid optimization.
• Robust security frameworks – protecting IT/OT assets against evolving cyber threats.

Our approach is customer-first, results-driven, and designed to deliver tangible ROI—whether extending asset lifecycles, enhancing employee safety, or improving customer satisfaction.

Conclusion: Building the Future Together

The energy and utilities sector stands at the crossroads of urgency and opportunity. From extreme weather disruptions to ambitious climate goals, the case for modernization has never been stronger. By embracing the five key trends shaping 2025, while investing in core modernization pillars, E&U enterprises can build a resilient, sustainable, and customer-centric future.

At Prolifics, we believe modernization is not just about technology, it’s about creating an ecosystem where communities thrive, assets deliver lasting value, and customers trust their providers. Ready to modernize your energy and utilities infrastructure for the future? Partner with Prolifics today to accelerate your journey toward resilience, sustainability, and customer excellence.

With data breaches and ransomware dominating headlines, we spoke with Mike Hahn, Head of Security Practice at Prolifics, to get expert insights into why cybersecurity starts with the small details.

Q&A: Insights from Mike Hahn on Cybersecurity

Q1: Mike, what’s your initial advice when people ask about cybersecurity?

A: I often use Facebook as an example. People give away personal data constantly through polls, quizzes, and surveys – “What’s your first car? Your birthday? Your favorite color?” This seemingly harmless information is collected and commoditized. In today’s world, data is currency, and protecting it is non-negotiable. Cybersecurity begins with understanding what information you share and how it can be exploited.

Q2: So, are people giving out information too easily?

A: Exactly. Most people don’t connect security with privacy. For example, if your insurance provider or online retailer exposed your birthday, you’d be furious. Yet, when a Facebook quiz asks for your birthday, people participate without a second thought. Organizations must audit and secure personal data effectively—ignoring this is a risk.

Q3: How does this translate to corporate security?

A: About 90% of breaches are due to human error. Clicking a malicious link or sharing a piece of information can expose an entire system. With enough data, systems can predict passwords or login behavior. What seems trivial now can determine the impact of a breach later.

Q4: What are some other common cybersecurity missteps?

A: Many organizations skip basic maintenance: not patching systems, avoiding reboots, ignoring encryption. Policies exist, but adherence and audits often fail. Routine security hygiene is non-negotiable – it’s the foundation for preventing breaches.

Q5: Why do these mistakes happen so often?

A: Information overload is a major factor. Security teams face alerts daily, some of which are false positives. Over time, people stop paying attention. Remember: security is 60% human vigilance and 40% technology. Alignment between IT and cybersecurity goals is essential to ensure systems and teams respond effectively.

Q6: Is cybersecurity as dramatic as movies show?

A: Not at all. Most breaches occur in small, seemingly insignificant ways. Hackers only need to be right once; security professionals must be right 100% of the time. Internal errors or external attempts can compromise systems without flashy attacks. The key mindset: assume breach.

Q7: Any solutions or preventive measures?

A: Automation is a game-changer. For instance, if someone tries to log in multiple times in a second, automated systems can immediately block the account. Think of it as a “security wingman” – vigilant around the clock, even when humans can’t monitor systems.

Join Mike Hahn in the Prolifics Innovation Sandbox

The Innovation Sandbox returns live on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 10 a.m. ET with “Top Guns of Cybersecurity.” Learn how automation, cloud solutions, and best practices can elevate your organization’s security posture. Experts Michael Hahn (Prolifics), Mark Neumann (IBM), and Kirsten Craft (Prolifics) guide you through today’s cybersecurity challenges. Register here to secure your spot.

About Michael Hahn – Head of Security Practice, Prolifics

Michael Hahn brings 20+ years of cybersecurity advisory and consulting experience across Fortune 500 and government clients. He is recognized for enabling resilient, secure IT solutions, bridging the gap between technology, human behavior, and organizational strategy.