Top Cybersecurity Trends Driving Digital Transformation For Water Utilities

By Andrea Lebron, Trinnex

Cybersecurity continues to grow as a critical initiative for water utilities, with certain trends helping to drive and even accelerate digital transformation. Becoming a smart water utility goes beyond operational technology such as smart sensors or remote monitoring. Information technology or IT also plays a critical role, with future-thinking leaders seeking how to safely and efficiently harness the data available around them.  

Key cybersecurity trends driving digital transformation

Cybersecurity awareness has become more mainstream

Recent events such as the rise of cybersecurity incidents at public utilities and a shifting global political landscape (the White House recently asked all businesses to heighten cybersecurity protocols) have made cybersecurity top of mind for many communities. Just the mention of Oldsmar is enough to trigger a quick check of the most critical operating systems. In a recent survey, a whopping 80% of organizations in the critical infrastructure industries such as water and electric utilities had a ransomware attack within the last year.