Protecting Government Infrastructure Against Escalating Cyber Threats
Cyberattacks on federal, state and local governments surged by 148% in 2023, costing millions in recovery expenses and jeopardizing national security and public services.
Rising Cyber Threats Jeopardize Public Infrastructure
As federal, state and local governments digitize their infrastructure, they face an alarming increase in cyberattacks. Limited budgets, outdated systems, and critical reliance on services like water, emergency response, and public records make them prime targets for sophisticated cyber actors. The stakes are high, with community safety and essential operations on the line.
148% Increase in Cyberattacks
Malware attacks in the sector surged in 2023, significantly straining financial and operational resources.
Costly Recovery
Local governments spent over $70 million on recovery efforts in 2023, with attacks causing an average of 9.6 days of downtime.
Rising Frequency
Over 400 cyber incidents were reported in 2023, highlighting the growing risks to critical public services.
Outdated Systems
Many agencies rely on legacy systems, leaving essential infrastructure exposed to threats.
The increasing volume and sophistication of cyber threats demand a proactive cybersecurity approach across all levels of government.
The Invisinet Solution to your critical Public Sector needs
Zero Trust Enforcement
Enforces identity-based access control at the network layer to meet CISA & DISA compliance requirements.
Maximize Your ZTNA Investments
Incorporating identity data within session packets enhances real-time network auditing and reduces false indicators of compromise. Additionally, Invisinet enhances your anomaly detection, making it smarter and more effective.
Seamless IT and OT Integration
Protects military, emergency response, energy grids, and transportation systems from cyber threats without disrupting operations.
Regulatory Assurance
Ensures agencies meet federal cybersecurity mandates, including E) 14028, CMMC and NIST 800-207.
Cloaking for Critical Government Systems
Invisinet hides mission-critical IT & OT assets, including SCADA, preventing adversaries from mapping or targeting key government networks.
A significant cyberattack that targeted the operational technology (OT) systems of a water treatment plant in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. The attack exposed critical vulnerabilities in water infrastructure, highlighting the growing threat landscape in sectors that manage essential public services like water supply. The attack was carried out by an Iranian cyber group, CyberAv3ngers, who infiltrated the water treatment plant's SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems. They gained unauthorized access to a Pressure Regulation Pump system, which allowed them to manipulate the water pressure within the system. While the damage was not catastrophic, the disruption caused a temporary imbalance in water distribution across the region.
Impact
Operational Disruption
The attackers' manipulation of the pressure regulation system resulted in inconsistent water distribution, causing temporary service interruptions to residential and commercial users.
Public Safety
While there were no immediate casualties or widespread water contamination, the attack raised concerns about the potential dangers of future incursions. Had the attackers targeted chemical dosing systems, the results could have been far more harmful.
Economic Impact
The city incurred costs for immediate system repairs, incident response measures, and cybersecurity consulting to assess and bolster defenses after the attack.
Government Response/Regulation
Increased Scrutiny from Federal Agencies
The EPA and CISA launched a joint investigation, working with local authorities to identify the entry point and secure the compromised systems. They emphasized the need for immediate remediation and strengthened defenses in water systems nationwide.
EPA Sanitary Surveys
In response to the growing cyber threat landscape, the EPA integrated cybersecurity evaluations into its regular Sanitary Surveys for water utilities under the Safe Drinking Water Act. This requires utilities to assess the cybersecurity of their OT systems as part of their compliance measures.
White House Directive
On March 18, 2024, the White House issued a letter to all U.S. governors urging them to prioritize water system safety and cybersecurity. The letter highlighted the importance of protecting critical infrastructure, particularly drinking water, against cyber threats and emphasized the need for states to actively engage in bolstering cybersecurity defenses.
CISA collaborated with the EPA to promote guidelines and performance goals tailored to water systems, focusing on OT network protection, segmentation, and remote access controls. These guidelines aim to build resilience against similar attacks by securing vulnerable systems and promoting proactive monitoring practices
Lessons Learned
Outdated SCADA systems that lacked robust encryption or multi-factor authentication (MFA), allowing attackers to easily exploit weaknesses.
Segmentation of IT and OT Networks
The importance of network segmentation. Water treatment plants and other critical infrastructure must segregate IT systems (used for administrative tasks) from OT systems (controlling operational processes) to prevent attackers from jumping between networks.
Upgraded Cybersecurity for OT
Many water facilities continue to rely on outdated or poorly secured OT systems. The attack on Aliquippa’s water plant showed the urgent need to implement multi-factor authentication, secure remote access, and robust encryption for all OT systems.
Proactive Monitoring
Constant, real-time monitoring and threat detection systems must be in place to detect anomalies within OT networks. In the case of Aliquippa, early detection could have significantly reduced the attackers' window of opportunity.
The Invisinet Solution
How Invisinet Keeps The Public Sector Secure
Invisinet’s advanced cybersecurity solutions effectively prevent attacks by addressing vulnerabilities in OT systems and implementing robust defenses to mitigate the risks. Here's how Invisinet keeps attacks at bay:
Secure Cloaking to Block Reconnaissance
Invisinet’s Secure Cloaking technology hides critical OT systems, including SCADA devices, from unauthorized users. This prevents attackers from scanning and mapping network infrastructure.
First Packet Authentication™ (FPA) to Prevent Unauthorized Access
Invisinet’s patented FPA technology authenticates every communication attempt from the first packet, ensuring that only verified users and devices can interact with the network.
Identity-Based Micro-Segmentation to Contain Threats
Invisinet isolates critical systems into secure zones using identity-based policies. This segmentation ensures that even if attackers gain access to one part of the network, they cannot move laterally to other systems.
Multi-Factor Authentication and Role-Based Access Controls
Invisinet enforces multi-factor authentication (MFA) and identity-based access controls for all users and devices.
Continuous Real-Time Monitoring and Anomaly Detection
Invisinet provides real-time monitoring and identity-based session tracking, allowing early detection of suspicious activities within OT networks.
Seamless IT/OT Integration to Secure Operations
Invisinet bridges IT and OT environments with unified security policies, ensuring robust protection for operational processes without impacting performance.
Regulatory Assurance to Meet Compliance Requirements
Invisinet supports compliance with EPA and CISA cybersecurity guidelines, integrating real-time auditing and reporting to ensure regulatory standards are met.
The Result with Invisinet in Place
No Unauthorized Access
Attackers cannot breach classified government systems due to FPA and cloaking.
Isolated Critical Assets
Micro-segmentation blocks unauthorized movement across government networks.
Mission Continuity
Secure access controls and real-time threat detection ensure uninterrupted public services and national security operations.
Regulatory Compliance
Meets CISA, NIST, and DoD Zero Trust security frameworks for copliance and resilience.
The Time to Act is Now
Proactively protect your State and local governments operations with Invisinet’s advanced cybersecurity solutions, built to meet the unique challenges of this critical sector.