Modern power infrastructure depends on interconnected IT and OT environments. These systems support everything from information management and communications to critical operational processes.
As connectivity increases, so does the need for structured cybersecurity controls.
In Pakistan, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) introduced the Security of Information Technology and Operational Technology Regulations, 2022 through S.R.O. No. 1708(I)/2022, notified on September 6, 2022. The regulations establish minimum standards for compliance by relevant licensees, registered persons, and generation companies.
For organizations within scope, meeting these requirements involves more than creating cybersecurity policies. It requires understanding the regulatory requirements, assessing existing controls, addressing gaps, and maintaining evidence of implementation.
This is where NEPRA SRO 2022 compliance consultancy can provide structured support.
What Are the NEPRA IT and OT Security Regulations?
The NEPRA regulations establish cybersecurity requirements intended to support safe and reliable electric power services.
The framework addresses both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments. It also places responsibility on relevant entities to protect information systems against unauthorized access and establish safeguards for critical infrastructure information systems and data connected to the national grid.
NEPRA has also published a dedicated compliance sheet that maps regulatory clauses to IT and OT compliance status. This provides organizations with a practical basis for reviewing their current security environment against the regulatory requirements.
The regulations have also been updated since their original notification. In March 2026, NEPRA issued an amendment to the 2022 regulations that omitted Regulation 12. Organizations should therefore consider the current amended regulatory position when assessing compliance.
Why IT and OT Security Compliance Matters
IT and OT systems serve different purposes, but modern power-sector environments increasingly depend on their connectivity.
A weakness in identity management, remote access, network security, asset management, monitoring, or vulnerability management can create risks across interconnected environments.
The NEPRA compliance framework therefore addresses areas that extend beyond traditional IT security.
Organizations need to consider how security controls affect operational technology, critical infrastructure, system availability, data integrity, and continuity of power-sector operations.
A structured compliance program can help bring these requirements together.
Key Areas of NEPRA SRO 2022 Compliance
IT and OT Security Policies
The NEPRA compliance sheet requires relevant organizations to develop or adopt, implement, and regularly review IT and OT asset security policies and manuals. It also addresses management structures, cybersecurity responsibilities, and qualified cybersecurity personnel.
Effective policies should reflect the organization’s actual technology environment rather than simply reproduce regulatory language.
Asset Inventory and Classification
Security begins with understanding what needs protection.
NEPRA’s compliance requirements include maintaining inventories and categorizing IT and OT assets. Organizations can use this information to identify critical systems, understand dependencies, and determine where additional security controls may be necessary.
Without reliable asset visibility, risk assessments and control implementation can remain incomplete.
Risk Assessment and Gap Analysis
The framework also addresses regular audits, security risk assessment, risk management, and gap analysis.
A NEPRA compliance assessment can help organizations compare existing practices against applicable requirements and identify areas that require remediation.
Instead of treating every gap equally, organizations can prioritize findings according to their operational importance and security risk.
Access and Network Security
Unauthorized access represents a significant concern across both IT and OT environments.
The NEPRA compliance sheet includes requirements related to access rights, system protection, network security, and mechanisms designed to protect systems against unauthorized access.
A consultancy engagement can help organizations review access controls, remote access mechanisms, network segmentation, security configurations, and related procedures.
Monitoring and Incident Response
Security controls need continuous oversight.
NEPRA’s compliance requirements address regular monitoring of security controls, response to security incidents, mitigation of risks and vulnerabilities, and related operational processes.
Organizations also need appropriate communication and reporting channels for relevant cybersecurity threats affecting the power sector.
NEPRA has conducted implementation-roadmap workshops and webinars to support the implementation of its IT/OT cybersecurity regulations.
What Does NEPRA Compliance Consultancy Include?
A structured NEPRA SRO 2022 compliance consultancy engagement can help organizations move from regulatory requirements to practical security implementation.
Depending on the organization’s environment and requirements, services can include:
- NEPRA compliance gap assessment
- IT and OT asset assessment
- Cybersecurity risk assessment
- Requirement-to-control mapping
- IT and OT security policy development
- Access control assessment
- Network security review
- Vulnerability and patch management assessment
- Incident response planning
- Security monitoring review
- Compliance documentation
- Remediation planning
- Evidence preparation
- Internal compliance assessment
- Ongoing compliance support
The specific scope should be established according to the organization’s regulatory applicability, technology environment, existing controls, and identified risks.
Turning Regulatory Requirements Into Security Controls
Compliance becomes more effective when regulatory requirements connect directly with operational security.
A practical approach can follow a structured lifecycle:
Assess → Identify Gaps → Prioritize → Implement → Validate → Maintain
The assessment identifies the current state.
Gap analysis highlights areas that require attention.
Prioritization helps organizations determine where remediation should begin.
Implementation translates requirements into practical controls.
Validation provides evidence that controls operate as intended.
Ongoing maintenance helps organizations respond to changes in technology, threats, and regulatory requirements.
This approach can help prevent compliance from becoming a documentation-only exercise.
NEPRA Compliance Consultancy with Catalyic Security
Meeting NEPRA’s IT and OT security requirements requires more than understanding the regulation. Organizations also need the ability to translate regulatory expectations into practical cybersecurity controls.
Catalyic Security supports organizations through cybersecurity assessment, compliance consulting, risk management, control implementation, technical validation, and compliance readiness.
Its approach can help connect regulatory requirements with the technology, processes, and controls operating within an organization.
For NEPRA-regulated environments, this can include assessing current IT and OT security practices, identifying compliance gaps, supporting remediation, and preparing the evidence needed to demonstrate implementation.
Organizations can also review the official NEPRA Legal and Regulatory Resources for the current regulations, compliance materials, and amendments.
Strengthen Your NEPRA Compliance Readiness
NEPRA SRO 2022 places cybersecurity within the broader objective of protecting reliable electric power services and critical infrastructure.
For organizations subject to the regulations, compliance requires a clear understanding of applicable requirements, visibility into IT and OT assets, effective security controls, risk management, monitoring, incident response, and ongoing review.
A structured consultancy approach can help turn these requirements into an actionable security program.
Strengthen your IT and OT security posture with NEPRA SRO 2022 compliance consultancy from Catalyic Security.