Ultra Intelligence & Communications’ Post

Cyberattacks against critical infrastructure sectors/agencies have risen 30% from 2022 to 2023 and another 28% in just the first quarter of 2024. The work of securing our vital critical infrastructure assets, systems, and networks have never been more important as our adversaries seek to disrupt and disable our ability to function as an economy and society.

Recently, The White House, in collaboration with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Security Council, The White House, issued an urgent call to state governors to secure water and wastewater systems from active cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure in the United States. Gregory Rudy, vice president and general manager of C2I&E for Ultra I&C puts it succinctly: "Security is not a luxury—it's an expectation." But achieving this requires reevaluation of cybersecurity that secures the operational technology that underpins our utility networks. What technologies and strategies can utility providers employ to avoid interruption of critical services and prevent cyberattacks? And most importantly, how can reliability and trust be preserved in the face of evolving threats? Dive deeper and explore actionable insights in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/eeBZM4FN #criticalinfrastructure #cybersecurity #infrastructuresecurity #cyberresilience #securenetworks #publicsafety #cyberdefense #cyberattack #energysecurity #nationalsecurity #cyberthreatprevention #infrastructureinnovation #resilientinfrastructure #digitaldefense #defensetechnology #defenseindustry

Multiple cyber attacks have hit the water industry recently. Protections and processes are not keeping up with a mushrooming attack surface while incident response coordination and information sharing among companies is lacking. Read this new article by David Cagigal for insights on how to improve cybersecurity in this critical infrastructure sector. https://lnkd.in/dyNSS-tT "If the sector is to make significant improvements in cybersecurity, it must focus on three strands: a whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity to share the burden; implementation of zero trust to reduce risk on critical systems; and improvements in incident response processes to aid resilience and recovery." #criticalinfrastructure #criticalinfrastructureprotection #cybersecurity #zerotrust #wholeofstate

Explore how the proposed Water Risk and Resilience Organization seeks to boost cybersecurity for US water systems amid rising cyber-threats to critical infrastructure. #CyberSecurity #InfrastructureProtection #PublicPolicy #cybersecurity #security #news https://lnkd.in/ehstcj8T

The increasing concern among 81% of US residents regarding the resilience of critical infrastructure to cyber attacks underscores a crucial national security issue. According to a survey by MITRE and The Harris Poll, the American public views cyberattacks as the most significant threat, with 78% expressing worry about their potential impact. This apprehension is not unfounded, given the escalating threats posed by state actors like the Chinese Communist Party. The survey reveals a call for action, emphasizing the need for federal intervention and a collaborative effort between public and private sectors to fortify our critical systems. Interestingly, while 64% of respondents believe in the robustness of US infrastructure, the overarching anxiety signals a gap between perceived safety and actual security preparedness. It's particularly noteworthy that Gen Z shows less concern, highlighting a generational divide in perceptions of cybersecurity risks. As the digital natives of our society, their lesser concern could indicate either a higher degree of trust in digital systems or a lack of awareness about the potential consequences of cyber threats. The public's expectation for federal government responsibility in safeguarding critical infrastructure speaks volumes about the urgency for a comprehensive national security strategy that involves all stakeholders. As we navigate through the complexities of cybersecurity threats, it becomes imperative to prioritize investments in our critical infrastructure's resilience, ensuring a swift recovery from any potential attacks. The call for readiness against cyber threats, much like preparations for natural disasters, highlights the need for a proactive and educated approach to safeguarding our nation's vital assets. #cybersecurityawareness #criticalinfrastructureprotection #nationalsecurity #proactiveapproach #cyberthreatintelligence

We rely on critical infrastructure for our health, safety, and everyday lives. How can the government and private sectors address its vulnerabilities? InformationWeek #criticalinfrascture #cybersecurity #nationstate #threatactors #cyberattacks

The U.S. Congressional Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection is conducting a hearing on Tuesday to address the concerns surrounding #water and #wastewater systems in the country. The focus of the discussion will be on the potential disruptions to operations and safety risks posed by these threats. Additionally, the hearing aims to explore the necessary measures required to enhance the security of #operationaltechnology (OT) in the water sector. The witnesses to Tuesday’s hearing include Robert M. Lee, CEO and co-founder at Dragos, Inc.; Charles Clancy, senior vice president and general manager at MITRE Labs and chief technology officer at MITRE; Kevin M. Morley, PhD, manager for federal relations at the American Water Works Association (AWWA); and 😎Marty Edwards, deputy chief technology officer for Operational Technology and Internet of Things at Tenable. In his written testimony, Lee outlines that both government and industry have invested significantly in the cybersecurity of our nation’s #criticalinfrastructure. “However, a vast majority of the focus has been on securing information technology (IT) networks. Less emphasis was traditionally placed on cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS).” He added that most executives and policy leaders are shocked to find that upwards of 95 percent of #cybersecuritybudgets go to the enterprise IT portions of the business and not the #OTnetworks that can impact safety, and the environment, and generate revenue for the organization. #OTsystems are a critical part of critical infrastructure. #otcybersecurity #icscybersecurity #OTCyber #ICSCyber #threatlandscape https://lnkd.in/g4sbbesF

Sophos Reports $3M Median Recovery Costs for Energy and Water Sectors Amid Rising Ransomware Attacks Sophos has unveiled a sector survey report titled “The State of Ransomware in Critical Infrastructure 2024, revealing that the median recovery costs for the Energy and Water sectors have surged to $3 million, a fourfold increase compared to the global cross-sector median..... To Read More: https://lnkd.in/gTmN6Bb7 Sophos | Nirav Mahida | #Sophos #RansomwareReport #CriticalInfrastructure #Cybersecurity #EnergySector #WaterSector #RansomwareRecoveryCosts #CyberThreats #VulnerabilityExploitation #ITSecurity #OutdatedTechnology #ITStaffing #RansomPayments #CyberAttackStatistics #UtilitiesSecurity #GlobalSurvey #CyberDefense #TechNews #DataProtection #PublicServices #CyberAwareness #TechReport #SecurityMeasures #2024Insights

Cybersecurity is increasingly critical for water sector companies due to rising cyberattacks. In a recent article, Idrica explains how new tech like automation and smart metering offer benefits but also expose risks. European utilities are intensifying cybersecurity efforts with strategies like risk assessments, monitoring, training, redundancy, upgrades, and encryption. https://lnkd.in/dBziRsma #digitalization #cybersecurity #water #digital #smartmetering