Critical infrastructure insiders in the U.S., Canada, and Europe points to the energy sector when it is asked about the biggest target for cyberattack.

According to the survey sponsored by security firm Secure Computing, the energy industry has turn to the most vulnerable to cyberattacks and would have the most detrimental breach, while the financial sector is prepared to its best in the case of a cyberattack.  All other industries were held to be "not prepared" by greater than 50 percent of the responders

According to the research released Monday, more than half of survey participants from US and Canada said that major exploits in critical infrastructure has as ready began. Another 14 percent predicted that a major exploit was expected in the next 12 months.

Only 2 percent stated there would never be a severe exploit

Because of the Concerns about cyberattacks on the energy sector, U.S. lawmakers considered legislation to broaden federal authority over electric companies in September.

According to a white paper on the research written by Energy Insights, an growth in the number of access points by the use of sensors, smart meters, and third-party contractors with remote access capability; use of more IP-based networks; consolidation between corporate and operational networks; trust on standard or commodity IT platforms such as Microsoft Windows; and lack of attention to protection by network automation and control system vendors, are contributing to the increased vulnerability in the energy industry.

The biggest chokepoint to improving the security of critical infrastructure is cost, followed by apathy. Government bureaucracy and internal events were tied for third position.

Approximately 200 industry leaders from the critical infrastructure industries completed the survey at industry events in August and September.

Security experts have discoursed how easily it would be to break into a power plant. Cybersecurity worries prompted U.S. lawmakers in September to count legislation to broaden federal authority over electric companies.

This chart shows how prepared respondents said specific industries are or aren't for cyberattack.