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Electricity ISAC and WaterISAC Launch Security Information Sharing Effort to Promote Cross-Sector Collaboration

Electricity ISAC and WaterISAC Launch Security Information Sharing Effort to Promote Cross-Sector Collaboration

Created: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 - 14:45
Categories:
Cybersecurity, Physical Security, Security Preparedness

NERC’s Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC) and the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) launched a new security partnership aimed at enhancing cross-sector coordination and taking advantage of the interdependencies of the electricity and water industries. 

Under the partnership, staff from WaterISAC will join the E-ISAC in Washington, D.C., to improve coordination on potential security risks related to the supply of electricity to water and wastewater treatment plants, and the supply of water to electric utilities for cooling power plant turbines and for office operations. 

“Water is one of the ‘lifeline’ critical infrastructures that depends on and helps enable a secure, reliable supply of electricity,” said Bill Lawrence, NERC vice president and chief security officer. “Partnering with WaterISAC will help strengthen E-ISAC collaboration across industry sectors in a way that better serves all critical infrastructures in North America.” 

The partnership between the E-ISAC and WaterISAC is predicated on developing a robust information exchange on security risks. 

Through a variety of tools, both the E-ISAC and WaterISAC monitor and analyze potential physical and cyber security threats to their respective industries and use their respective secure portals to alert and advise members on mitigating real threats. The goals of the E-ISAC and WaterISAC under the partnership include: 

  • Improve security collaboration on common threat information and incident response. 
  • Provide joint analysis of security concerns and events. 
  • Advance shared processes for information sharing and situational awareness. 
  • Improve information sharing among all ISACs. 

“The water and electricity sectors are critical to the well-being of consumers and businesses,” said Michael Arceneaux, managing director of WaterISAC. “Our joint collaboration recognizes this responsibility as well as the interdependencies between our sectors, and it aims to help our respective members enhance their security and preparedness.” 

The E-ISAC and WaterISAC have agreed to use existing policies and procedures for safeguarding sensitive information under the partnership. 

NERC Contact: kimberly.mielcarek@nerc.net | WaterISAC Contact: arceneaux@waterisac.org 

The vision for the Electric Reliability Organization Enterprise, which is comprised of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and its Regional Entities, is a highly reliable and secure North American bulk power system. Our mission is to assure the effective and efficient reduction of risks to the reliability and security of the grid. 

WaterISAC’s mission is to help water and wastewater utilities protect against and recover from physical and cyber security threats by providing them with alerts, analysis and mitigation resources. WaterISAC members include 2,600 water sector personnel across several hundred utilities and other organizations in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.