Harnessing Digital Armor: Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Threats

November 15, 2023

Critical infrastructure means important physical and online systems needed for society and the economy to work right. These include energy, transport, water, health, communication, and money systems. Cyber attacks on these critical systems can stop essential services, put public safety and the country’s security at risk, and cause money loss. It’s vital to protect these systems from cyber threats. We can do this by using digital armor. Keep reading to learn more.

Understanding the Nature of Cyber Threats to Critical Infrastructure

Cyber threats are harmful actions that aim to damage or get unauthorized access to computers, networks, or data. These threats come in four types: Espionage (stealing sensitive info), Sabotage (damaging critical infrastructure), Extortion (demanding benefits to prevent an attack), and Influence (twisting info for a desired result).

In 2020, a cyberattack affected US federal agencies and private companies, including those in the energy, nuclear, and defense sectors. It was traced back to a Russian group.

In 2021, a criminal group named DarkSide disrupted the Colonial Pipeline with a ransomware attack. This affected the fuel supply, and they demanded $4.4 million to restore services.

Also, in 2021, a cyberattack was aimed at Oldsmar, Florida’s water treatment plant. The goal was to increase sodium hydroxide levels in the water supply. Fortunately, an operator detected and stopped the attack.

The Consequences of Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure

Cyberattacks on critical systems can lead to huge problems:

Money Losses: They can cause financial harm to those who own and run critical systems, as well as to customers and businesses that rely on them. A report by CSIS and McAfee said that in 2020, the worldwide cost of cybercrime was between $445 billion and $608 billion. Cyberattacks can also hurt the economy’s competitiveness and efficiency by damaging trust in digital services.

Risk to Public Safety and National Security: They can be a significant threat to people who depend on critical systems for water, electricity, healthcare, and transport. Cyberattacks can also risk a nation’s security — they reveal sensitive information or disrupt critical systems and buildings. For instance, in 2019, a cyberattack on a big nuclear power plant in India might have been carried out by a North Korean group aiming to steal nuclear secrets or cause damage.

Interruption of Essential Services: They can disturb or lower the quality of services offered by critical systems — power, water, transport, communication, and finance. Cyberattacks can also cause a chain reaction, where the failure of one system affects others. For example, in 2017, a cyberattack on the NHS in the UK affected over 200,000 computers and disturbed healthcare services, like appointments, surgeries, and prescriptions.

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The Role of Digital Armor in Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure

Digital armor is a mix of tech, processes, and practices used to protect essential systems from cyber threats. It helps stop or lessen cyberattacks with robust cybersecurity methods and tools like encryption, authentication, firewalls, antivirus, and backup.

Also, digital armor improves the ability to watch for, identify, respond to, and recover from cyber threats and incidents quickly and effectively, using network sensors, systems to detect intrusions, teams to respond to incidents, and backup plans.

Finally, it allows for continuous review and improvement of the capabilities and performance of core cybersecurity systems through regular audits, tests, evaluations, and the use of feedback and lessons learned.

Key Strategies for Harnessing Digital Armor Against Cyber Threats

Here’s how to use digital armor against cyber threats:

Set Up Strong Cybersecurity Rules and Defense Systems: If you own or run critical systems, follow cybersecurity standards like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Also, use and keep updating tools like encryption, firewalls, and antivirus.

Keep an Eye on Network Activity and Spot Intrusions: Monitor what’s happening on your network and use systems that can detect when something’s wrong. Use threat intelligence to spot cyber threats.

Check Your Cybersecurity Regularly: Keep assessing your cybersecurity through metrics and tests. Use penetration testing to see how well your defenses work against possible cyberattacks.

Leveraging Emerging Technologies to Strengthen Digital Armor

New techs like AI and blockchain can make digital defenses stronger. AI can improve how we spot and stop cyber threats by learning from data and making tasks like risk assessment automatic. For instance, IBM Watson for Cyber Security analyzes blogs, news, and social media for cybersecurity tips.

Blockchain can help protect essential systems by storing and checking all transactions and data. This makes everything clear and secure without needing a central authority. For instance, the Energy Web Foundation is a nonprofit that’s creating a blockchain platform for renewable energy and smart grids.

Establishing Public-private Partnerships for Collective Defense

Public-private partnerships are when government, businesses, and schools work together. They aim to improve cybersecurity, and here’s how:

Working Together: They allow everyone involved to share information and resources. This helps increase awareness and response to cyber threats. For example, the US agency CISA works with the private sector to provide cybersecurity services.

Sharing Info and Best Practices: These partnerships help share important and helpful information on cyber threats. They help everyone stay aware of threats and how to deal with them. For instance, organizations like ISACs collect and share information on cyber threats with their members.

Increasing Cyber Awareness and Education Among Critical Infrastructure Personnel

Cyber awareness and education help people involved in critical infrastructure understand and respond to cyber threats. They are key to fighting cyber threats by:

Training Employees: Businesses should offer regular training to teach employees about cybersecurity basics — different types of cyber threats, common risks, and best cybersecurity practices.

Teaching Company-Specific Policies: Employees also need to understand their specific roles in cybersecurity within their organization, including how to report issues and respond to incidents.

Learning Practical Skills: This includes using cybersecurity tools, detecting threats, and protecting data and systems.

Building a Culture of Awareness: Businesses should create an environment where cybersecurity is valued, employees feel comfortable reporting issues, and cybersecurity is part of the company culture.

The Future of Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure Against Cyber Threats

The future of protecting critical infrastructure from cyber threats may be influenced by:

Advances in Technology: New technologies like quantum computing, biometrics, and 5G could both help and challenge cybersecurity efforts. They could provide faster encryption and improved authentication. But they might also present new risks like new types of cyberattacks and increased system complexity.

Changing Cyber Threats: As cyber threats evolve and become more sophisticated, the strategies to combat them must also adapt. This means constantly updating and improving digital armor to stay ahead of potential cyber incidents.

Conclusion

Cyber threats are a big and growing problem for the safety of critical infrastructure. This is crucial for society and the economy. So, it’s vital to protect this infrastructure from cyber threats. This can be done by using digital armor, which helps improve cybersecurity.

Some key strategies include having robust cybersecurity systems, better network monitoring, regular cybersecurity checks, using new technologies, working together with public and private sectors, and educating people about cyber threats. By doing these things, businesses can protect their systems and data, and make sure they can continue providing good services.

Want to learn more about cybersecurity? Call Downtown Managed Services at (954) 524 9002