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In a digital world, access to safe, secure and reliable energy is essential to the health of the global economy. But energy companies in 2025 face a range of serious security threats to their operations, both physical and digital. These organizations must protect infrastructure from potential threats while also juggling the demands of clients and customers — a balance that, if not carefully maintained, can expose security vulnerabilities.
Pinkerton’s experts are tracking several key trends that will guide security in the energy industry in 2025.
Security Vulnerabilities in Energy
Unfortunately, physical security will never be a set-it-and-forget-it operation. Regular maintenance and systematic reviews of security operations are the only way to make sure the standards of protection at a facility are as strong as the day the system was implemented.
Even in 2025, many energy sites lack fundamental safeguards, such as proper access control systems or adequate perimeter defense. For example, a recent Pinkerton security risk assessment at a solar farm revealed ongoing break-ins and thefts despite existing security measures. The facility included a large area of land and missed obvious security weaknesses, such as holes in their protective fencing, as a result. Once these vulnerabilities are detected, they’re typically a quick fix — but left unchecked, they can create significant disruptions.
This pattern of security gaps extends across the industry. In another case, we developed the first comprehensive oil refinery security program for an organization and its 60 acres of land. The project uncovered numerous basic vulnerabilities, such as inadequate perimeter surveillance and unsecured entryways.
These cases demonstrate a broader trend — energy facilities of all sizes must design, implement, and maintain basic security measures, regardless of the scale of their operations.
Unmanned Energy Site Security
Theft at energy facilities no longer follows predictable patterns. Historically, manned facilities have been common targets for crime, but our experts have seen an increase in break-ins at remote unmanned sites in recent years. These crimes are typically carried out by individuals seeking high-value metals and other assets, such as copper wiring from electrical systems and electronic equipment that can be quickly resold.
The frequency of these incidents in recent years demonstrates why static security measures often fail at unmanned locations. Adequate energy infrastructure protection strategies in 2025 must combine around-the-clock monitoring, regular energy security assessments, and periodic penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities before criminals do.
Nuclear Security
The growing global appetite for sustainable energy coupled with the massive computational demands of artificial intelligence, have reignited discussions about nuclear power — particularly small modular reactors (SMRs) — and their role in shaping the future of energy production.
SMRs are seen as a potential solution for providing clean, reliable power on a large scale, but this technology also brings security concerns. After all, when it comes to protecting nuclear sites, the stakes are unimaginably high. In these important situations, security teams must have a deep understanding of nuclear infrastructure and the many vulnerabilities unique to its facilities.
As technology advances and energy demands change, so do the methods to keep these sites safe. SMRs will require security teams that understand their site's unique challenges and how to protect what matters most. Proposed regulations allowing off-site teams to help secure these facilities could open new lower-cost options for safeguarding nuclear facilities. Additionally, as facilities continue to pioneer new advances in energy, from SMRs to nuclear fission, they will need to be on guard against the potential for corporate espionage.
Pinkerton: Guiding Companies to a Future of Energy Industry Security
While we can't predict exactly what our energy landscape will look like in the next decade, one thing is certain — a comprehensive security plan is necessary.
Pinkerton stands ready to provide the expertise needed in any sector of the energy industry. To learn how we can help, connect with Pinkerton today.
