The Department of Homeland Security has developed and released new cybersecurity performance goals for critical infrastructure through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Cyber threats facing critical infrastructure are on the rise, and these new goals are designed to give stakeholders the foundation they need to reduce cyber risk.
Critical Infrastructure Cyberthreats
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported 649 complaints of critical infrastructure ransomware attacks in 2021, and it anticipates increased ransomware victimization this year.
Critical infrastructure sectors, such as healthcare, food, energy, and transportation, are vital to the economy and national security. The financial consequences of a ransomware attack can be substantial.
“Given the highly regulated nature of the industries that operate critical infrastructure, the risks of financial loss due to penalties from lawsuits regulatory penalties, lost productivity, and recovery costs as a result of a ransomware attack are extremely high,” says Dan Pepper, partner at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright.
In addition to heavy financial consequences, cyberattacks on…
