Members of Congress voiced their concerns on the need for more cybersecurity to protect the water infrastructure of the United States at a Homeland Security Committee hearing on Sept. 21.
The hearing comes after many concerns have risen about the need for more infrastructure support since the recent water problems in Jackson, Mississippi. Coupled with the rise of cyberattacks coming from foreign advisories targeting the United States since the start of the war in Ukraine.
“Our nation’s critical infrastructure, with a particular focus on water infrastructure as we’ve seen in recent years, America’s aging infrastructure systems are increasingly susceptible to ransomware and cyberattacks, and our water systems are no exception,” said Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y.
One of the concerns described by one of the expert testimonials at the hearing dealt with the increase in nation-sponsored attacks.
“We’re dealing with nation sponsorship. This is pure adversaries. They’re no longer looking merely at causing chaos. They’re actually looking at how they could disrupt national security, our ability to mobilize our economies, and our confidence in government,” said W. Craig Fugate, former FEMA administrator.
Fugate continued his testimony in supporting the idea that state-sponsored attacks have, in his opinion, outgrown the concerns of ransomware attacks.
“Cyber threats are at the core most and it’s far greater than ransomware,” said Fugate.
