Renewed Focus on Protecting Critical Infrastructure as Attacks Mount
Agencies and Congress are increasing their focus on protecting critical infrastructure from both cyber and physical attacks. This comes as attacks on electrical facilities are on the rise, with nine such attacks reported from November 2022 to February 2023. These attacks have cut power for thousands of Americans.
Top Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) requesting a briefing on physical and cyber threats posed to critical infrastructure by domestic extremists as well as information on steps the offices are taking to defend against such attacks.
Earlier this month, law enforcement stopped a plot by Neo-Nazis to attack electric utilities in Baltimore.
The FBI and DHS also issued a Joint Intelligence Bulletin warning of the increased threat from racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) against critical infrastructure.
“Together, I&A and CISA have the tools, resources, intelligence, and expertise that can be brought to bear in protecting targeted energy infrastructure against domestic extremists,” the letter by lawmakers stated.
Department of Energy Funding New Safety Efforts
With the electrical grid a prime focus for attackers, the Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced $48 million in funding to develop programs to improve protection and control of the domestic power grid.
The program will fund projects that help utilities better control the flow of electricity to help them to avoid disturbances and route around potential disruptions.
“A reliable and resilient grid is the key to protecting our power supply from outside threats and expanding America’s clean energy and transportation options,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
Modernizing the grid will also support President Biden’s goals for renewable energy, which include having 100 percent clean electricity by 2035.
The program will be managed by DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The researchers will be working on a whole host of technologies to improve power grid resiliency, including semiconductors to enable faster switching, improved electromagnetic interference immunity, and thermal management.
NATO Leaders Seek to Protect Underwater Cables
Protecting critical infrastructure is also getting global attention. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministers recently met in Brussels, Belgium/ Among the topics discussed was undersea infrastructure.
Undersea cables carry over 95 percent of international data and provide “high capacity, cost-effective and reliable connections.”
“NATO has been working on this for many years and we are now taking it to the next level,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
“We have decided to establish a new coordination cell at NATO Headquarters, to map our vulnerabilities, and engage with industry. This will support our efforts to prevent and counter threats to critical infrastructure, including undersea cables and pipelines.”