Caveat Vendor

Cyberattacks on Public Infrastructure? Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

January 27, 2016

Behnam Dayanim

With apologies to Queen (Bohemian Rhapsody is one of my all-time faves), cyberattacks on public infrastructure have become a reality. Just last week, Israel’s Public Utility Authority reportedly was targeted, resulting in temporary disruption of winter electricity to thousands of Israelis.
Coincidentally (or not), the attack coincided with the annual CyberTech conference in Tel Aviv.  The attack was repulsed relatively quickly but not before at least some attendees at the conference, who reportedly include Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, noticed.

Data are hard to come by, which makes the recent attack in Israel all the more notable.  Nonetheless, increasing fears of attacks on critical infrastructure have resulted in both executive and legislative action here in the United States, and we can expect continued attention from regulators tasked with “hardening” our energy, financial services, water, transportation and other potential vulnerabilities.

Cybersecurity continues to be a high priority for corporate suites regardless of industry.  Companies that have not yet paid substantial attention to this area overlook it at their peril.

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