Multiple organizations have stepped forward to provide the resources small utilities need to defend themselves from cyber threats with mostly no-cost solutions. The Institute for Security and Technology (IST) has launched a new pilot program called “UnDisruptable27” focusing on the nexus of water and urgent care to prioritize the safety, security, and resilience of basic lifeline human needs, especially at the local level.

Undisruptable27 aims to prepare local communities across the U.S. for cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, concentrating on four key areas: water and wastewater, emergency medical care and hospital services, food supply chains, and local power supplies. The project's initial phase involves connecting with stakeholders to understand their concerns and constraints, whether they are financial, technical, or a mix of the two.

This call-to-action was prompted by public hearings earlier this year, during which Congress and U.S. government cybersecurity leaders examined the potential threats to infrastructure posed by the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) Volt Typhoon group or other state-sponsored actors. The project's goal is to make critical infrastructure supporting basic human needs "undisruptable" by 2027. For more information, visit Dark Reading.