Securing America's City Water Systems Through OT & IT Cyber Assessments

The Challenge

City-managed water systems across the U.S. were operating on aging, undersecured networks. The primary challenges included legacy OT environments with minimal security, poorly segmented IT and OT networks, unsecured remote access methods, limited cybersecurity expertise, and inadequate threat monitoring. These vulnerabilities exposed critical water infrastructure to significant risk, necessitating a comprehensive cybersecurity overhaul.

The Solution

Recognizing the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity, multiple cities turned to Cyber Advisors for their expertise in both IT and OT environments. After evaluating several solutions, they selected Cyber Advisors for their comprehensive approach to cybersecurity. Cyber Advisors' services included detailed cybersecurity assessments, remediation planning, and penetration testing. "Cyber Advisors has been instrumental in transforming our city's approach to cybersecurity. Their expertise has helped us secure our water systems against potential threats," stated the City IT Director. Through their meticulous assessments, Cyber Advisors identified vulnerabilities, improved network segmentation, and standardized remote vendor access protocols, thereby fortifying the water systems' defenses.

The Results

As a result of Cyber Advisors' work, cities have significantly improved the cybersecurity posture of their water infrastructure. Notable enhancements include reduced lateral movement risk between IT and OT networks, standardized remote vendor access protocols, and improved incident response readiness and monitoring. Additionally, there has been a significant increase in awareness of OT-specific risks. These improvements have led to high risk reduction and significant improvements in incident response capabilities, as evidenced by several multi-year agreements and the service of multiple cities.