“The cybersecurity attack on Colonial Pipeline was a clear demonstration of how disruptions of privately-owned infrastructure can have a massive economic impact. Since then, we’ve seen countless other high-profile cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure. In 2023 alone, IC3 received 1,193 complaints indicating critical infrastructure organizations were victims of ransomware attacks. These are voluntary reports, the actual number of attacks is unknown – and likely much higher.

Efforts to infiltrate the underlying systems that support not only our daily lives but also our economies are emerging as an acute national security risk. These attacks are being executed by ransomware gangs and well-funded global adversaries that don’t share Western values. Last month, cybersecurity researchers linked a January 2024 attack on a Texas water facility to Sandworm, an infamous Russian threat group.

There is a clear and present threat that we cannot afford to ignore.

While organizations have become increasingly transparent about incidents as they happen or soon after, we need transparency now to prevent future catastrophic cyberattacks. We’ve witnessed the success of this collaboration in action after the attack on Unitronics PLCs in Aliquippa, PA. Industries and government officials have demonstrated they know how to work together, but collectively we have to be open and dedicated to continuing this practice.”- Marty Edwards, Deputy CTO for OT/IoT, Tenable