How Can Critical Infrastructure Facilities Become Cyber-Resilient?
February 26, 2021
Network Perception CEO Dr. Robin Berthier, recently joined Luke Fox on The Trust Revolution to discuss cybersecurity in relation to recent attacks on several critical infrastructure industries. Berthier explains, “Utilities have modernized, and that connectivity, especially around equipment and IoT, increases the risk for disruption and attacks.” He elaborates with specific examples and provides best practices.
Berthier also cautions against a singular focus on preventing attack, as that effort is futile. To best prepare for future threats, he recommends building cyber resiliency with an emphasis on “defense in depth or multiple layers of security.” Companies must change the way they think about cybersecurity and prioritize building resiliency.
“It’s impossible to keep everything outside of the perimeter, so design a system with this in mind. Software vulnerabilities are only growing. There were 6000 in 2016 and 18,000 in 2020.”
To achieve cyber resiliency within your organization, he says, “Visibility is key. Know what you have in your network and keep it up to date. Also, follow the principle of least privilege for applications.”
Berthier also emphasized that cyber resiliency and cybersecurity must be a concern for more than just IT teams. For true resiliency, systems need to work harmoniously across a diverse set of tools, and teams need to work together to ensure business continuity.
