Protecting Our Critical Infrastructure from the Crow’s Nest

In the face of the diminished air-gap, former NSA Director and U.S. Cyber Commander, Michael S. Rogers, and Claroty’s Chief Security Officer Dave Weinstein suggest America’s critical infrastructure is not vulnerable because it is digital or automated, but because the attackers know the terrain better than the defenders. Likewise, regardless of any cyber warfare rules of engagement that may be developed, poignant words from Winston Churchill remind us there are “lunatics or dictators” who will not be deterred by such constraints and will not hesitate to pull the trigger on their destructive malware in an attempt to damage our nation through its critical infrastructure. Furthermore, the authors point out that for the first time in the history of modern warfare, industry – not government – is on the front lines. This new paradigm results in the need for the private sector to ensure a resilient critical infrastructure in the face of cyber-attacks, in addition to a reliable one. Nonetheless, the US government is still poised in the crow’s nest vigilantly monitoring cyberspace for incoming threats. And with continued, ever-increasing collaboration between industry and government, this division of labor may well be our greatest advantage in defense of our networks. Read the post at Claroty