Valuable Tips To Successfully Pass The NERC CIP Compliant Test
The NERC CIP compliance is what keeps many industry owners up at night! It is an arduous process wherein you have to provide proof of a finely working electrical system in your company. And if you take it lightly, are you even aware of the penalty charges they impose on you? And this cannot be all. They might take away your license, and you may not be able to function the company without these connections for some time. Imagine the loss! We know the stress you feel after reading this and want to avoid this circumstance at any cost. Well, to make that happen, you have to pass the audits with flying colors.
How to pass the NERC CIP compliance audits successfully?
The NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) compliance is basically the system managed by the country to ensure the secure usage of electricity and power throughout the country. And all the large organizations using this resource need to pass a compliance test or audit organized by them. Well, let us warn you that passing this audit is not at all easy, and you need to be very much prepared and ready for it. Want to know how to do it? Keep reading.
1. Keep your certificate ready
Since you already got your notice about the audit date, you must prepare for the NERC certificate you own. You will have to show this the first thing to the inspectors when they arrive.
2. Never miss your periodic audits
The authorities from the NERC visit you once in three years to check the entire system thoroughly. If you carry out that session regularly, they generally do not arrive suddenly for an audit. And even if they do, the reports of the previous audits speak in your favor and save you.
3. Keep the system updated
If by any chance you find any issue in the company’s electrical system, you should treat it immediately. Of course, it requires someone experienced and highly trained for the job. But do not worry, some experts will help you with this task and keep your electrical system updated and secure against any glitches. But yes, you have to preserve these bills and records to provide proof to the authorities when they arrive for the audit. Their inspectors will immediately make out if your system has been sabotaged or even repaired before.
4. Comply with all the NERC CIP standards
There are standards of Compliance put forth by NERC that ensures your system is working fine. Check those and ensure you are following each of them. High security and reliability are the two most prominent standards among these. And if you think the language is a bit tricky and you can’t understand the details, call Proven Compliance Solutions Inc for compliance program management. They have an expert team of technicians and engineers who not only ensure to help you in the annual roundabout checking of the systems, but they also provide emergency help to tackle the issues you find in it. What’s more, they help you perfectly with the audit and check everything thoroughly beforehand.
5. Perform a mock interview and audit
Often, you answer wrong during an audit because you are nervous and everything is so new to you. So, with the professionals helping you prepare for this stage, why don’t you practice a mock interview? You will get an exact idea of where you stand and the areas of the system you need to work on!
Apart from all these steps, do not forget to prioritize and present your Reliability Standard Audit Worksheets (RSAWs). These are solid proof of your compliance status and hold a lot of value during the audit. You will also be required to prepare your evidence in written documentation that is entirely formal and states only the facts. And finally, be ready to answer all kinds of confusing questions about the electrical configuration and your company’s system. We know with the proper preparations and accurate information powered by facts, you are definitely going to get over this audit successfully. Best of luck!
