Cybersecurity Awareness for Critical Infrastructure
1. Operational Technology (OT) Protection
- Implement air-gapped networks for most critical control systems
- Secure SCADA systems controlling physical infrastructure
- Establish strict change management for all OT modifications
- Monitor for abnormal equipment behavior indicating cyber compromise
- Maintain comprehensive inventories of all field devices
2. Transportation-Specific Protections
- Secure air traffic control systems from interference
- Protect railway signaling and switching systems
- Monitor port operations systems for unauthorized access
- Secure intelligent transportation systems (traffic lights, toll systems)
- Implement robust vehicle-to-infrastructure communication security
3. Telecommunications Infrastructure
- Secure core network elements (5G infrastructure, fiber optics)
- Protect against SS7 and Diameter protocol vulnerabilities
- Implement robust SIM card provisioning security
- Monitor for unauthorized access to network management systems
- Secure undersea cable landing stations
4. Physical-Digital Convergence
- Train staff on potential physical consequences of cyber attacks
- Implement robust protection for remote field devices
- Secure all wireless communications in operational environments
- Monitor for GPS spoofing in navigation systems
- Establish procedures for manual override capabilities
5. Regulatory Compliance
- Comply with TSA security directives for transportation
- Implement NERC CIP standards for energy dependencies
- Adhere to FCC security requirements for telecom providers
- Follow NIST Cybersecurity Framework for Critical Infrastructure
- Maintain awareness of evolving CISA guidelines
6. Supply Chain Risks
- Vet all equipment vendors for critical infrastructure components
- Monitor for counterfeit network hardware
- Implement security requirements in all procurement contracts
- Establish secure update procedures for vendor-provided software
- Conduct security assessments of all third-party maintenance providers
7. Incident Response Planning
- Develop sector-specific playbooks for service disruptions
- Coordinate response plans with first responders
- Conduct regular drills simulating cyber-physical system compromises
- Establish clear public communication protocols for outages
- Participate in ISAC (Information Sharing and Analysis Center) threat sharing
8. Workforce Training
- Implement role-based training for field technicians and engineers
- Focus on social engineering threats targeting operational staff
- Train on secure mobile device usage in field operations
- Emphasize proper USB device handling in OT environments
- Conduct regular phishing simulations tailored to sector-specific lures
9. Emerging Threats
- Monitor for AI-powered attacks targeting system automation
- Prepare for quantum computing threats to encryption standards
- Address security implications of smart city integrations
- Develop strategies for protecting IoT sensor networks
- Plan for climate change-related cyber vulnerabilities
10. Redundancy & Resilience
- Implement fail-safe mechanisms for critical systems
- Maintain analog backup systems where feasible
- Establish manual operation procedures for emergency scenarios
- Test system resilience through regular disruption exercises
- Secure backup power and environmental control systems
Note: This guidance should be adapted based on your specific infrastructure components, geographic distribution, and interdependencies with other critical sectors. Regular coordination with sector-specific ISACs and regulatory bodies is essential.
