Leveraging Your Risk and Resiliency Assessment Into an Actionable Cybersecurity Plan

Water and wastewater utilities are defined as critical infrastructure, as their function is so vital that any significant disruption could affect public safety and ultimately national security.

Brandon Erndt, control systems and cybersecurity technical director, has recently been published in Clear Waters Magazine. This article outlines how water and wastewater utilities, classified as critical infrastructure, can transform the cybersecurity insights gained from their America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Risk and Resiliency Assessments into actionable, strategic cybersecurity plans. With increasing reliance on operational technology, these systems face growing cyber threats that can jeopardize public health, safety, and trust. The article emphasizes a defense–in–depth approach, combining technology, processes and people to build a multilayered security ecosystem.

Key recommendations include prioritizing risks, strengthening access controls, segmenting networks, updating policies, and conducting continuous training and simulations. The article also emphasizes the importance of developing robust incident response plans and maintaining ongoing monitoring and reassessment. By leveraging AWIA assessment results and adopting best practices, utilities can enhance their cyber resilience, protect critical assets, and provide reliable service delivery in the face of evolving threats.

Read the whole article “Leveraging Your Risk and Resiliency Assessment Into an Actionable Cybersecurity Plan.”