Water Sector News

https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/cisa-fbi-and-epa-release-incident-response-guide-water-and-wastewater-systems-sector

WASHINGTON – The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a guide today to assist owners and operators in the Water and Wastewater Systems (WWS) Sector with best practices for cyber incident response and information about federal roles, resources and responsibilities for each stage of the response lifecycle. Technical expertise is not required to understand and use this guide.   

Developed in collaboration with over 25 WWS Sector industry, nonprofit, and state/local government partners, this resource covers the four stages of the incident response lifecycle:  

1. Preparation: WWS Sector organizations should have an incident response plan in place, implement available services and resources to raise their cyber baseline, and engage with the WWS Sector cyber community.  
2. Detection and analysis: Accurate and timely reporting and rapid collective analysis are essential to understand the full scope and impact of a cyber incident. The guidance provides information on validating an incident, reporting levels, and available technical analysis and support.   
3. Containment, eradication, and recovery: While WWS Sector utilities are conducting their incident response plan, federal partners are focusing on coordinated messaging and information sharing, and remediation and mitigation assistance.  
4. Post-incident activities. Evidence retention, using collected incident data, and lessons learned are the overarching elements for a proper analysis of both the incident and how responders handled it.