Critical infrastructure depends on interconnected operational systems, where cyber incidents can disrupt essential services, safety, and availability.
Search across headline titles and summaries.
Background for this topic.
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.
Recent advisories from U.S. federal authorities on vulnerabilities in certain operational technology devices underscore the potential security risks that many healthcare providers frequently underestimate, said Sila Özeren, a security research engineer at Picus Security.
Space Policy and Tech Head Paul Liias on Dealing With Satellite VulnerabilitiesA major disruption of civil and military satellites could cause chaos on the ground to communications, navigation and other vital services. But the threats don't just come from missiles. They also comes from hackers who could exploit numerous vulnerabilities, said Estonia's Paul Liias.
Ransomware Attacks Pummel Critical National Infrastructure Sectors, Experts WarnThe oil and gas sector in Pakistan is on high alert following a ransomware attack against the state-owned oil and gas company Pakistan Petroleum, an instance of ransomware impacting critical infrastructure in a year that has already tallied hundreds of incidents.
NCSC-NL Says Hack of Citrix NetScaler Flaw Also Targeted Critical InfrastructureA preliminary assessment by the Dutch NCSC into a suspected Russian hacking campaign has concluded that more than one group likely carried out the May breach of the country’s law enforcement network. Investigators say hacks of Citrix NetScaler flaw also targeted critical infrastructure.
NCSC-NL Says Hack of Citrix NetScaler Flaw Also Targeted Critical InfrastructureA preliminary assessment by the Dutch NCSC into a suspected Russian hacking campaign has concluded that more than one group likely carried out the May breach of the country’s law enforcement network. Investigators say hacks of Citrix NetScaler flaw also targeted critical infrastructure.