Cybersecurity for a Fragmented Market of Small Utilities | WWD Weekly Digest

June 30, 2022
Unlike electric utilities there are thousands of water and wastewater utilities in the U.S. which makes cybersecurity a difficult proposition.

In January, the White House announced the Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Initiative – Water and Wastewater Sector Action Plan, a 100-day initiative to bring water and wastewater facilities up to speed with current cybersecurity. 

Kenneth Crowther, product security leader for Xylem Applied Water Systems & America’s Commercial Teams, highlights the challenges of implementing a plan like this given the fragmented nature of the municipal water and wastewater industry. Not all is lost however, as new models for securing communities in a region can be used to address cyberattacks on the world’s most precious resource. 

Additional Resources 

Timestamps 

  • Intro | 0:00 
  • The purpose for a 100-day cybersecurity sprint for water | 0:47 
  • The challenges of applying lessons from other utility sectors | 3:32 
  • How utilities have traditionally handled cybersecurity | 6:25 
  • Cybersecurity as a service for small utilities | 14:23 
  • Next steps for water utility cybersecurity | 18:07 
  • Outro | 23:47 

Sign up for More Water & Wastes Digest Content 

Connect with WWD on Social Media 

Sponsored Recommendations

Benefits of Working with Prefabricated Electrical Conduit

Aug. 14, 2024
Learn how prefabrication of electrical conduit can mitigate risk, increase safety and consistency, and save money.

Chemical Plant Case Study

Aug. 14, 2024
Chemical Plant Gets a Fiberglass Conduit Upgrade

Electrical Conduit Cost Savings: A Must-Have Guide for Engineers & Contractors

Aug. 14, 2024
To help identify cost savings that don’t cut corners on quality, Champion Fiberglass developed a free resource for engineers and contractors.

Energy Efficient System Design for WWTPs

May 24, 2024
System splitting with adaptive control reduces electrical, maintenance, and initial investment costs.