Turning the Tide on Cybersecurity for the Water Sector
Cyberattacks on organizations worldwide surged 40% in 2021. September 2021 broke records for the number of weekly cyberattacks, topping all other months since January 2020. Currently, one out of every 61 organizations worldwide is impacted by ransomware attacks every week. Given this ever-increasing threat level, a national law requiring critical infrastructure organizations to report cybersecurity incidents to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is on the horizon. In addition, the Biden administration’s proposed infrastructure bill includes $1.9 billion for cybersecurity funding, with more than half that amount set aside for state, local and tribal governments.
On November 16, 2021 our Government Relations & Regulation Group focused on the changing cybersecurity landscape for the water sector during the final presentation in our 2021 Water Webinar series. Our attorneys and policy advisors covered:
- Anticipated new federal statute and regulations affecting cybersecurity for water agencies and other entities deemed “critical Infrastructure;”
- Guidance on more stringent compliance policies expected to impact the water sector;
- Possible consequences of non-compliance with the anticipated new state and federal regulations; and
- Funding available to bolster cybersecurity platforms and protections for water providers and how to access these resources.
This webinar was most beneficial to those practitioners within the water sector directly charged with cybersecurity technology, technology platform selection, information technology processes, systems and regulations and the legal implications of preventing and managing cybersecurity breaches.