The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recently identified specific cybersecurity threats for the water sector, highlighting the importance of protecting critical infrastructure from potential attacks.

One of the main cybersecurity threats identified for the water sector is ransomware attacks. Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. In recent years, there have been several high-profile ransomware attacks on water utilities, causing disruptions in water supply and potentially putting public health at risk.

Otra amenaza importante de ciberseguridad para el sector hídrico son las amenazas internas. Estas amenazas pueden provenir de empleados, contratistas o proveedores, actuales o anteriores, que tienen acceso a sistemas y datos críticos. Estas personas pueden, intencional o involuntariamente, causar daños a la infraestructura hídrica mediante la filtración de información confidencial, la manipulación de sistemas o la interrupción de las operaciones.

Phishing attacks are also a prevalent cybersecurity threat for the water sector. Phishing attacks involve sending deceptive emails or messages to employees in an attempt to trick them into clicking on malicious links or providing sensitive information. These attacks can result in unauthorized access to systems, data breaches, and other security incidents.

Para abordar estas amenazas a la ciberseguridad, la Casa Blanca y la EPA han recomendado que las empresas de agua implementen medidas de seguridad sólidas, como implementar autenticación multifactor, realizar capacitaciones periódicas sobre ciberseguridad para los empleados, actualizar periódicamente los sistemas y el software y establecer planes de respuesta a incidentes en caso de una violación de seguridad.

It is essential for water utilities to take proactive steps to protect their systems and data from cybersecurity threats to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water services to the public. By staying vigilant and implementing best practices in cybersecurity, water utilities can mitigate the risks posed by cyber attacks and safeguard critical infrastructure from potential harm.