Critical infrastructure depends on interconnected operational systems, where cyber incidents can disrupt essential services, safety, and availability.
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Critical infrastructure includes systems and assets vital for public health, safety, and economic stability, such as power grids, water treatment, transportation networks, and healthcare facilities. These systems often combine physical components with industrial control systems (ICS) and operational technology (OT) that manage essential services in real time.
From an information-security perspective, critical infrastructure faces risks like unauthorized access to control systems, disruption of service availability, and manipulation of sensor data. Defending these assets requires specialized security measures tailored to ICS environments, including network segmentation, strict access controls, and continuous monitoring for anomalies. Ensuring resilience also involves coordinated efforts between operators and government agencies to address vulnerabilities unique to legacy systems and proprietary protocols.
Healthcare organizations should prepare for post-quantum cryptography without overreacting to hype, said John Frushour, CISO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Stronger encryption standards, commercial software support and attention to medical devices can help providers manage emerging risks.
Deal Combines Dragos OT Threat Detection With runZero, NetRiseAccenture is acquiring a majority stake in Dragos and full ownership of runZero and NetRise in a $4.2 billion deal to build an end-to-end OT cybersecurity platform for power grids, water systems, manufacturing plants and other critical infrastructure operators.
Vital Service Providers Need a Plan to Work Through Internet Outages, CISA SaysCritical U.S. infrastructure like water, power and even banking systems will be successfully hacked by enemy cyber warriors in the event of a military confrontation with a peer adversary like Russia or China, officials from the nation's civilian cyber defense agency said.