Florida Water System CyberAttack Raises Security Questions

In response to a February cyberattack on a water treatment facility in Oldsmar, Florida, EPA and DEP have offered resources and recommended a state of increased cybersecurity awareness. The cyber attack was prevented from causing serious harm by the quick actions of a water operator (see story: WTP Hack) and this Federal multiagency report: FBI_CISA_EPA_Joint_CSA-AA21-042A_Compromise_of_US_Water_Treatment_Facility.

The risk of such vulnerabilities are increased through the use of personal computing devices. A cybersecurity report found that 25% of state and local government employees use personal digital devices to telework. (See story: study of personal device use on the government job)

Additional resources are available at Water ISAC, and at the DEP cybersecurity advisory page.

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