CISA Launches Targeted Pilot Program for Critical Infrastructure, including Water and Wastewater Sector

In response to cyber attacks that have intensified in both volume and impact and the vulnerabilities within the nation’s critical infrastructure, CISA has announced the beginning a new pilot program that is focused on certain sectors. The water and wastewater sector is among them and can expect to be offered “cutting-edge” cybersecurity services, such as CISA’s Protective Domain Name System (DNS) Resolver.

CISA notes the Protective Domain Name System (DNS) Resolver had been available only to federal civilian agencies, up until now. It describes the tool as a proven, cost-effective solution that uses U.S. government and commercial threat intelligence to prevent systems from connecting to known or suspected malicious domains. Providing this and other specialized and tailored services is part of CISA’s strategy of focusing on “Target Rich, Resource Poor” critical infrastructure entities. In support of this strategy and as part of the pilot program, CISA will also host roundtables and information sessions with critical infrastructure partners in every region and across all sectors. These are intended to help CISA understand unique needs and challenges, identify gaps in existing capabilities, assess interest in our shared services, and identify ways CISA can provide more scalable support through shared services or other means. The other sectors included in this program are healthcare and K-12 education, and CISA indicates it plans to deliver services to up to 100 entities this year. Read more at CISA and a related article at the Record.