The U.S. Energy Department released new guidelines it says will help protect the nation's grid from a cyberattack.

The department said it worked with federal agencies and the private sector to develop guidelines for the energy sector and technology suppliers to build in cybersecurity measures during the design and manufacturing stage.

"As we deploy advanced technologies to make the U.S. power grid more reliable and resilient, we must simultaneously advance cybersecurity protections," Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said in a statement Monday. "The cybersecurity guidance released today will help industry further strengthen these technologies and protect our critical energy infrastructure."

Cybersecurity is emerging as a new national security priority. Early this year, Russian Internet security company Kaspersky Lab said an attack dubbed The Mask may be state-sponsored.

Cheryl LaFleur, acting chairwoman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, has said broader emphasis on protecting U.S. energy infrastructure is needed.

The Energy Department says it's invested more than $100 million on cybersecurity strategies between 2010-13.