Cyberattacks against water utilities prompted U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Adam Schiff of California to introduce the Water Cyber Shield Act in mid-August. The legislation aims to strengthen Federal oversight by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), provide funding for utilities, and safeguard drinking water and wastewater systems from cyberattacks. “The recent cyberattacks on Read More
Tag: Cybersecurity
Protecting Your Water and Wastewater System from Cyberattacks
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) are warning the operators of critical infrastructure, such as water and wastewater utilities, to guard against cyberattacks. Since July, municipal water and wastewater systems in Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Washington, and California have reported cybersecurity Read More
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Control Systems
State sponsored and financially motivated cyber criminals have targeted automation systems including those that serve water, electricity, and gas utilities. Securing these systems and their digital assets is critical to ensure reliability and continued operations. Common Threats Common cyber threats that may affect control systems include: Rogue Control: Unauthorized party takes control of a system to Read More
Cybersecurity Resources for Utilities
The news of recent cybersecurity attacks has utility managers looking for ways to shore up their defenses to keep critical infrastructure safe. In addition to the suggestions shared in The Update articles Protecting Your Water and Wastewater System from Cyberattacks and Cybersecurity Best Practices for Control Systems, there are several webinars and online resources available. Below, Read More
Cybersecurity Advisory Regarding Iranian-Affiliated Cyber Attacks
Four Federal entities issued a joint advisory to American organizations, including those in the water sector, about an urgent and ongoing Iranian-affiliated cybersecurity threat. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and National Security Agency (NSA) warn that American organizations from multiple critical infrastructure sectors have Read More
Takeaways from Water Matters Fly-In
Since 2001, the Government Affairs Office of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) hosts an event known as the Water Matters Fly-In in Washington, DC. The event represents a significant initiative of the Water Utility Council of AWWA, which is charged with providing oversight of the government affairs program. The purpose of the Water Matter Read More