Prioritizing Cybersecurity: Protecting Critical Infrastructure with SCADA

Water and wastewater systems are critical to public health and safety. They not only are responsible for treating and providing the water we drink and use every day, but are essential to many industries including agriculture, energy, and recreation. However, they are also increasingly a target for cyber attacks.

As technology becomes increasingly intertwined with how the United States operates its critical infrastructure, the risk of cyber attacks on these vital public services is also increasing. These attacks can lead to operational disruptions, financial losses, contamination risks, and more. As more water utility systems adopt technology into their infrastructure, ensuring the safety of those technologies is more critical than ever. 

Why Water and Wastewater Systems are Vulnerable 

In modern utilities management, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are essential for efficient operations of critical infrastructure across the country. These technologies often include computers, sensors, communication devices, and software to help monitor, control, and analyze data collected from the system. 

While beneficial in managing and conserving our country’s most valuable commodity: water, those systems can also make water and wastewater systems more susceptible to cyber attacks if not properly protected. 

So What Makes Them Vulnerable?

1. Legacy Systems with Outdated Security - Many utilities rely on older systems that were not designed with cybersecurity measures in mind.

2. Remote Access Risks - Operators need remote monitoring capabilities, but unsecured access points in systems can make them easy targets for hackers.

3. Lack of Cybersecurity Training and Awareness - Operators who are not educated in cybersecurity training can pose a risk for the whole system if cybersecurity protocols are not followed.

4. Increased Cyber Threats - Unfortunately in today’s digital age, there are simply increased attempts at compromising critical infrastructure. Hackers are becoming more sophisticated and versatile in their attempts to target water and wastewater systems. 

While outdated, legacy SCADA systems can perpetuate cybersecurity threats, up-to-date, secure systems can actually protect our critical infrastructure. 

How So?

1. Visibility - Many SCADA systems provide operators with a real-time, comprehensive view of their operations. Users are able to set thresholds for equipment and are often alerted when those parts are operating outside of those preset limits. This gives users the ability to not only respond to a potential threat more quickly, but proactively combat the attack with remote control capabilities, too. 
   
   
2. Network Segmentation and Enhanced Security - Modern-day SCADA solutions implement network segmentation, isolating the software and critical components from easily-accessible external components. The utilization of firewalls and VPNs allows only authorized users to access the software and thus, the water and wastewater systems. 
   
   
3. Regular Software Updates - Any reputable SCADA company should be regularly testing its software for vulnerabilities and updating as needed. Automatic updates ensure the system is protected from the latest threats, protecting the operations from exploitations targeting outdated software. 
   
   
4. Cybersecurity Standards Compliance - Managing a precious resource like water and our country’s critical infrastructure is a paramount position. Thus, SCADA systems should hold themselves to higher security regulations, such as the EPA Cybersecurity Requirements or the American Waterworks Association Cybersecurity Guidelines.

In addition to utilizing a secure SCADA system, water and wastewater operators should take their own precautionary measures to promote cybersecurity within their operations. This includes training for staff members, implementing multi-factor authentication, using strong passwords, and more.

READ MORE: “Combatting Cyber Threats Against Critical Infrastructure: Essential Tips and Resources”

Strengthening Cybersecurity in SCADA for Water and Wastewater Systems

As cyber threats evolve, so must the defenses of water and wastewater utilities. Investing in a secure, modern SCADA system with real-time monitoring, role-based controls, and strong encryption is crucial for maintaining safe and reliable water infrastructure.

SitePro partners with water and wastewater systems of all sizes to help them securely manage their critical infrastructure. Our subscription-based software ensures your network configurations and firewalls are always up to date with the latest technology and upgrades. Real-time data collection and analysis allows your operators to be alerted of any unusual changes to your operations, and our real-time remote monitoring and control ability allows them to react promptly.

Furthermore, users can easily be added and removed from your SitePro platform, so only authorized operators have access to your critical infrastructure. Our customer success team provides training, ensuring your staff can access and control your system with confidence. 

READ MORE: SitePro Wins National Defense Innovation Award