Defense-in-depth for the water and wastewater industry
The white paper outlines a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity for water and wastewater infrastructure, emphasizing the growing risks of digitalization and interconnected industrial systems.
As critical infrastructure, water treatment plants require robust protection against cyber threats targeting Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). The paper highlights the importance of a holistic security concept combining people, processes, and technology, aligned with IEC 62443 standards.
At the core is the Defense-in-Depth strategy, integrating plant security, network protection, and system integrity to prevent unauthorized access, malware, and operational disruptions. Key measures include network segmentation, firewalls, VPNs, access control, and continuous monitoring.
The document also stresses lifecycle security management - from risk analysis and secure design to implementation and ongoing optimization, ensuring long-term system resilience. Overall, it positions cybersecurity as essential for safe, reliable, and sustainable water infrastructure operations in an increasingly connected environment.