When Cyber-Physical Risk Becomes A Life-Safety Threat

Cyber-physical risk threatens critcal infrastructure

For decades, cybersecurity was largely viewed as a technology problem. Organizations worried about stolen data, ransomware and disruptions to business systems. While those concerns remain valid, discussions at the Cyber Safety Summit held June 10th in Washington, D.C., highlighted a growing reality: cyber threats are increasingly targeting systems that control the physical world.

Hosted at the National Academy of Sciences and supported by organizations including Building Cyber Security, the National Academy of Construction and the Society of American Military Engineers, the summit brought together leaders from government, engineering, cybersecurity, insurance and academia. The central theme was cyber-physical risk – the threat posed by cyber incidents to disrupt essential services, physical operations and public safety.

As buildings, utilities, transportation systems, healthcare facilities and industrial operations become increasingly connected, cyber risk has moved beyond the IT department and become a broader operational and governance challenge.

Cyber-physical Risk Threatens Critical Infrastructure