Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructures

- Critical Infrastructure Risks

Critical infrastructure risk is the possibility that an attacker will exploit a vulnerability in critical infrastructure. Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in the systems and assets that are essential to how society functions. 

Critical infrastructure is made up of three elements: physical, cyber, and human. These elements should be integrated throughout the steps of the framework.

Here are some threats to critical infrastructure, including: natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, negligence, criminal activity, terrorist attack, acts of political aggression. 

Examples of infrastructure failures include:

• Building collapses
• Water main breaks
• Gas pipe ruptures
• Dam failures
• Steam pipe explosions

- Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

Critical infrastructure cybersecurity is the use of programs, protocols, and technology to protect the critical infrastructure of a nation state. 

Critical infrastructure includes computer systems, networks, programs, data, and traffic data that are so vital to a country that their destruction or interference would have a debilitating impact. 

Examples of critical infrastructure include: 

• Power plants
• Water treatment facilities
• Roads and bridges
• Hazardous materials
• Hospitals
• Postal services
• Internet connectivity
• Data storage

A cyberattack on critical infrastructure can lead to: 

• Service disruptions
• Financial losses
• Compromised data
• Risks to public safety

One of the biggest challenges in critical infrastructure cybersecurity is the prevalence of legacy systems. These outdated systems were often designed without security in mind and can be difficult to update or patch. As a result, they are easy targets for cybercriminals.

- Cybersecurity for the Space Domain

Space is an inherently hostile operating environment, and space systems are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities. As space becomes increasingly critical to our critical infrastructure, the impact of cyberattacks and the corresponding risks are also increasing. The risks of commercial space operations need to be understood and managed along with other risks to ensure safe and successful operations.

Cyber ​​threats cover four segments: space, ground, connection and user. Clearly, the space cyber domain involves more than just cyber security of ground and space assets. Without considering the interactions between all four segments, any space mission can be compromised through a variety of pathways within and between the various segments.

In today's connected world, space technology forms the backbone of our global communications, navigation and security systems. Satellites orbiting the Earth are vital to everything from GPS navigation to international banking transactions, making them an indispensable asset in our daily lives and global infrastructure.

However, as our reliance on these celestial guardians escalates, so does their attractiveness to adversaries who might seek to compromise their functionality through cyber means. Satellite service may be disrupted, or in the worst case scenario, the spacecraft may be deactivated. The expansion of the digital realm into space has opened up new areas of cyber threats and brought unprecedented challenges.

This emerging battlefield highlights the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect our space assets from sophisticated attacks that threaten global stability and security.

- Examples of Cyber Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

Here are some examples of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure:

• Stuxnet: A computer virus  that damaged centrifuges used in Iran's nuclear program 
• Operation Crouching Yeti: A 2014 attack on India's power grids
• Attack on a Russian telecom firm: In June 2023, Ukrainian hackers claimed responsibility for an attack on a Russian telecom firm that provides critical infrastructure to the Russian banking system

Other examples of cyber attacks on critical infrastructure include: NotPetya, SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline.

[More to come ...]