In this series of articles running through July, RealClearPolitics and RealClearDefense take an in-depth look at the intersection of cybersecurity, technology, and warfare in the 21st century. Below is Part 6.
Recently, a malware called Trisis was discovered that was specifically designed to access controls and cause leaks or explosions and sabotage an electric company’s industrial control system. This was a warning shot to both the public and private sector, most especially to utility companies that deliver electricity to customers. Industry executives now know they must implement a multilayered strategy to protect against such cyberthreats.
Critical infrastructure is dependent on electricity. If the electric grid were shut down by a cyberattack, crucial functions of daily life ranging from ATM and online banking transactions to heating and cooling your homes – and shopping for food and gasoline – would come to a halt.
“As cyberattacks spill over into the physical world and potentially impact life and safety, our layered defenses must also evolve,” Mark Orlando, chief technology officer for Raytheon’s managed security services business, said in an email…
