Examples of Cyber Security in Critical Infrastructure

Here are some examples of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure:

• Transportation Security: The incorporation of encryption methods to protect military traffic management and communication networks such as the ones used in air, rail, and waterway transportation is a good example of cybersecurity in critical infrastructure, through adopting biometric authentication methods and using restrictions to prohibit unauthorized people from coming into critical assets such as airports and harbors.

• Power Grid Protection: Cyber security of critical infrastructure is a major need for power grid systems provided by electrical systems. Among these will be the installation of new types of firewalls and IDS (intrusion detection systems) that will have the ability to defend against online attacks that attempt network accesses with the intent to compromise power distribution, transmission, and generation infrastructure. Automated anomaly detection and traffic network monitoring also allow the detection of cyber breaches ahead of time, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments, on the other hand, provide the necessary resilience to power plants against ever-increasing threats.

• Financial Sector Defense: Weak cybersecurity measures are dangerous in the financial industry, they can lead to data breaches or even financial losses. The cyberattacks can be against payment networks, banking systems, and financial transactions, so the industry must protect all of them. The management of cyber threats to banking and digital payment platforms which apply the most up-to-date fraud detection systems and anomaly detection systems is the prevention of fraudulent incidents being detected and bringing them to a halt. For secure financial transactions, the use of multi-factor authentication and tokenizing in conjunction with cybersecurity in critical infrastructure makes the online banking system stronger and more secure, ensuring the protection of customer data.

• Healthcare System Resilience: Cyber security is essential to the healthcare industry as it aims to prevent disruption to system reliability and data safety. One healthcare cybersecurity aims to secure EHRs, medical equipment, and telemedicine platforms from cyberattacks targeting healthcare systems by the deployment of strong cybersecurity measures. Although these technologies to some extent contradict the fundamental principles of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations such as protecting the privacy of patients and the accuracy of data that is stored and shared across healthcare networks, the experts recommend data encryption and secure authentication methods to make these technological applications safe. Furthermore, the development of an emergency plan and an alternative provision of healthcare services in case of a cyber disaster might be important as it protects the health and security of the public when the infrastructure of a healthcare institution is affected by a cyber disaster by providing patient care and important medical service.

• Water and Wastewater Security: The guarding mechanisms of cybersecurity are necessary for guaranteeing the safety and security of critical infrastructure during the process of water and waste. Defenses such as segregating computers in the treatment facility and offsite secure access help put water and wastewater systems out of reach of cyber attacks. Providing means of defense from the manipulation of the leading units of Industrial Control Systems (ICS) by network whitelisting and firmware integrity tests is the target of cybersecurity technologies. To better guarantee a constant supply of water and sanitation services, protect people’s health, and be environmentally friendly, the dry run and cybersecurity training drills are undertaken.

The Cybersecurity features of critical infrastructure have rapidly emerged in a digital society and are doing more on online networks. Present-time civilization is largely based on a variety of networks and computer systems in which power supply systems, transportation infrastructure, hospitals, banks, and other institutions of the financial systems operate.

The hard practice of cyber security has another side of vulnerability wherein the dependence on digital technology may lead to a broken cyber defense system becoming one of the targets for cybercriminals. Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure is not only about technicality but it is a matter of historic priority to shrink the chances of economic crisis, public disorder, and national threat.

In this article, we will take a critical look at cyber security as it relates to the essential infrastructures with their challenges, advised methodologies or best practices, and some of the scenarios or examples in the real world where cyber security has been a problem.