Details of cyber resilience efforts for energy, water, and healthcare discussed in House hearing
Hey there, folks from the Bay Area! You know how we NorCal locals value our tech. Today, let’s tackle what’s going on at the intersection of healthcare, cybersecurity, and our beloved region. We’re going to delve into some governmental strategies and challenges — and don’t worry, I’ll keep it brief and interesting!
The powers that be in Washington have been busy. They’re looking to ramp up intelligence sharing and resilience among industries essential to living our everyday lives (think: energy, water, and healthcare). They’ve realized that these sectors have been hit with a surge of cyber threats, and naturally, they want to protect them. A special committee just met to hear about efforts from agencies like the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Department of Health and Human Services to respond to this rise in attacks.
This all kicked off about two months ago when the government launched a national cybersecurity strategy that laid a path to protect the nation’s crucial infrastructure sectors. They’re dealing with everything from hackers tied to other nations to criminal ransomware groups. Imagine a legion of digital firefighters, ready to respond to any cyber blaze that flares up.
Let’s get specific. The Department of Energy is testing out a program called the Energy Threat Analysis Center. Simply put, it’s a hub to coordinate threat info from private industry and the intelligence community. The goal here is to paint a clearer picture of our national security risks and stay one step ahead of these pesky threats.
Even our hospitals aren’t safe from these attacks. Experts have raised the alarm about a sharp increase of threats against our healthcare system, including ransomware. These acts don’t just impact the targeted hospitals; they ripple out to surrounding communities. Imagine waking up one day and finding out that your local hospital’s electronic health records system was hacked. Scary stuff, right?
Our friends at the EPA are also on the case. They’ve been focusing major resources on protecting drinking and wastewater systems. Some of you may remember the alleged attempt to poison a water plant in Florida, along with a similar incident in Kansas. Now, the EPA is keeping an eye on the water sector, as many utility providers have failed to adopt safety practices. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has placed particular focus on smaller communities who depend on under-resourced public utilities who might lack IT infrastructure or expertise.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Well, it’s pretty clear that cybersecurity is a top national concern. Our government is putting money and resources towards protecting our infrastructure, healthcare, and water sources from digital mayhem. We all should stay informed about these issues because they could have a major impact on our daily lives. Here’s to a more secure and safe future!
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security