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By Chinenye Anuforo
Cybersecurity analyst and researcher, Olutoye Ransome-Kuti, has called for the wider adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven cybersecurity solutions to protect critical infrastructure as cyber threats increasingly target power grids, distributed energy resources (DERs), water systems and other essential services.
Ransome-Kuti said intelligent cybersecurity systems have become indispensable in detecting, preventing and mitigating increasingly sophisticated cyber threats confronting modern cyber-physical systems.
He noted that the rapid digitisation of critical infrastructure has significantly expanded the cyber threat landscape, making proactive and adaptive security measures more critical than ever.
According to him, his research focuses on developing practical AI-powered cybersecurity solutions capable of protecting modern cyber-physical systems while supporting sustainable infrastructure development.
Based in Southern California, Ransome-Kuti’s work lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure resilience, with particular emphasis on securing distributed energy resources, virtual power plants and operational technology environments.
He explained that cyberattacks on distributed energy resources differ from attacks on traditional information technology systems because they can have immediate physical consequences.
“Unlike traditional IT systems, distributed energy resources and virtual power plants are cyber-physical systems, meaning a cyberattack can disrupt not only data but also electricity generation, grid stability and critical infrastructure operations.
“Their reliance on thousands of interconnected devices significantly expands the attack surface.
“I believe AI-driven threat detection can help identify anomalies and emerging attacks in real time, improving the security, resilience and reliability of modern energy systems,” he said.
He observed that recent cyber incidents affecting critical infrastructure worldwide have underscored the urgent need to strengthen operational technology security as governments, utilities and technology providers continue deploying connected energy systems.
Ransome-Kuti currently serves as a Cybersecurity Analyst with HomeRES.ai, where he contributes to cybersecurity initiatives supporting distributed energy resource management technologies. His responsibilities include vulnerability assessments and operational security practices aimed at strengthening the resilience of distributed energy systems.
He is also a DERMS Software and Platforms Fellow at the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI), where he is gaining practical experience with software platforms supporting the modernisation of electric grids and distributed energy resources.
Drawing from more than eight years of experience in application support, software development, technical support and project management, he said his multidisciplinary background has shaped his approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges in complex operational environments.
“My multidisciplinary background has taught me to look beyond isolated technical issues and understand how systems interact.
“Experience in application support and software development strengthened my troubleshooting, root cause analysis and cross-functional collaboration skills, while cybersecurity has added a risk-based perspective.
“When approaching cyber-physical systems, I focus on identifying the underlying cause of an incident, assessing its potential operational impact and developing solutions that improve both system resilience and security,” he said.
He stressed that operational technology environments require security strategies specifically tailored for systems where cyber incidents can directly affect physical infrastructure.
According to him, AI can establish a baseline of normal user and device behaviour, enabling organisations to detect unusual access patterns, unauthorised configuration changes and abnormal command sequences much faster than traditional monitoring methods.
He added that earlier threat detection allows organisations to respond more rapidly, reduce operational disruptions and improve the overall resilience of critical infrastructure.
Ransome-Kuti also highlighted AI’s growing role in modern incident response, while emphasising that human expertise remains essential.
“AI will play a transformative role in the next generation of incident response by enabling continuous monitoring, real-time anomaly detection, automated threat prioritisation and faster response to cyber incidents.
“However, AI should augment—not replace—human expertise.
“For critical infrastructure, the most resilient approach is a human-in-the-loop model where AI enhances analysts’ capabilities while experienced cybersecurity professionals make the final operational decisions,” he said.
Looking ahead, he envisioned an AI-powered electric grid capable of continuously monitoring itself, identifying cyber threats in real time and responding swiftly to minimise operational disruptions.
He said achieving that vision would require cybersecurity to be integrated into grid design from inception, broader adoption of AI-driven monitoring technologies, stronger collaboration among utilities, technology providers and policymakers, as well as sustained investment in professionals with expertise in both cybersecurity and energy systems.
“Cybersecurity will ultimately determine how resilient our future energy systems become. My goal is to help ensure those systems are designed to be secure from the beginning rather than protected only after vulnerabilities emerge. Through research, technology innovation and industry collaboration, I hope to contribute to a future where intelligent infrastructure is both sustainable and secure,” he said.
Ransome-Kuti is currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration in Applied Computer Science at Westcliff University. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, adversarial reasoning, operational technology security, incident response and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Beyond his research, he serves as a judge for science, engineering and technology competitions organised by several institutions, including the National Science Teaching Association, Toshiba ExploraVision, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, DECA, SARSEF, the Ohio Academy of Science and the North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair.
