Building a Digital Defense Using Virtual Private Networks

The FBI’s Portland, Oregon office has published an advisory discussing the use of virtual private networks, or VPNs. For those who use public WiFi networks for business or personal computing, VPNs are an incredibly important tool as they render traffic that could otherwise be intercepted by a third party – potentially a malicious actor – as unreadable. Given that there are many different types of VPNs on the market, the FBI offers a series of tips to assist in decisions about which one to choose. Although no cybersecurity tool is entirely “unhackable,” and indeed there have been reports recently of security flaws in several VPN products, WaterISAC encourages its members to consider incorporating VPNs into their operations, as appropriate. VPNs are discussed in WaterISAC’s 15 Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities, primarily in Fundamental #4 – “Enforce User Access Controls.” Read the advisory at the FBI.