Officials call on state and local governments to remain vigilant.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan released a public letter warning that hacking groups affiliated with Iran and China are targeting U.S. water utilities. The administration officials urged state and local governments to heighten system cybersecurity.
“Drinking water and wastewater systems are an attractive target for cyberattacks because they are a lifeline critical infrastructure sector but often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices,” Advisor Sullivan and Administrator Regan wrote. “Partnerships with State, local, tribal, and territorial governments are critical for EPA to fulfill this mission. In that spirit of partnership, we ask for your assistance in addressing the pervasive and challenging risk of cyberattacks on drinking water systems.”
The two officials recommended that local governments assess the cybersecurity plans of their water utilities, reset default passwords, and regularly update their software. They stated that federal cybersecurity task forces from a variety of agencies are ready to help address noticeable cybersecurity gaps.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the national security advisor and EPA administrator as they seek to ensure the safety of U.S. infrastructure.
- For wisdom for state and local governing officials and utility personnel as they assess the vulnerabilities of their systems.
Sources: Reuters, The Hill
