At DeNexus, we are proud to support America’s electric cooperatives in their mission to power rural communities safely and reliably. This fall, we had the honor of joining the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) at its five regional meetings held in Texas, Washington, Rhode Island, Mississippi, and Wisconsin, where cooperative leaders gathered to discuss the future of energy and the challenges that come with an increasingly digital world.
Who is NRECA?
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) represents more than 900 consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives across 48 states, serving over 42 million Americans. These co-ops are the backbone of rural America — providing essential power and driving local economies through shared values of reliability, affordability, and community service.
NRECA’s membership is organized into ten regions. The regional meetings – hosted during September and October – were an opportunity for co-op leaders, innovators, and partners to connect, share knowledge, and explore new strategies for strengthening their operations, including protecting against cyber threats.
The NRECA–DeNexus Partnership
Earlier this year, NRECA and DeNexus announced a strategic agreement focused on advancing cyber risk quantification and management for electric cooperatives. The partnership brings DeNexus’s data-driven platform and modeling expertise to the NRECA community, empowering co-ops to better understand, measure, and manage their cyber exposure in financial terms.
Our Message at the Regional Events
At each of the five meetings, DeNexus was invited to present the benefits of Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ) in clear, practical language tailored to co-op leaders.
CRQ is the practice of translating cybersecurity risks into measurable financial terms, helping organizations understand the potential impact of cyber threats in business language. CRQ bridges the gap between technical security teams and business leaders, enabling more informed decisions about investments, risk appetite, and prioritization of controls .
During our presentation, we explained how CRQ helps cooperatives:
- Turn cybersecurity from a technical challenge into a business decision;
- Justify and prioritize cybersecurity investments based on financial impact;
- Improve communication between CISOs, CFOs, boards, and insurance teams;
- Optimize cyber insurance, capital management, and budget allocation;
- Strengthen compliance efforts while going beyond minimum standards; and
- Use clear cyber risk KPIs to track performance and report to leadership .
We also introduced the DeNexus Pilot Program, which allows co-ops to explore hands-on how CRQ can support decision-making, from vulnerability management and insurance optimization to capital planning and board reporting .
Why Now?
The timing couldn’t be more critical. Cyber threats targeting rural utilities are increasing in both frequency and sophistication, putting essential community services at risk. At the same time, NRECA continues to provide opportunities and support to help cooperatives strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
By partnering with NRECA, DeNexus is committed to helping rural electric cooperatives quantify and manage cyber risk with the same rigor as any other business risk — ensuring that cybersecurity investments deliver measurable value and lasting protection for the communities they serve.
Together, we’re not just protecting systems. We’re protecting America’s rural communities.
Ready to turn cybersecurity into a measurable business decision?
Explore DeRISK CRQ — the DeNexus platform that empowers utilities and cooperatives to quantify cyber exposure, optimize insurance, and strengthen financial resilience.