Resilience of Critical Utilities: Securing Water and Wastewater Systems in 2025

This report discusses the escalating cyber risks to water and wastewater utilities and advocates for comprehensive OT security practices, emphasizing zero trust, asset visibility, network segmentation, MFA, anomaly detection, and rigorous recovery planning. It cites recent attacks on utilities (e.g., Muleshoe, TX; Aliquippa, PA) and increased federal scrutiny from EPA, CISA, and GAO, noting that funding via SRF now prioritizes demonstrable cybersecurity readiness. The piece promotes aligning with NIST CSF 2.0 and showcases case studies where integrated OT security (e.g., Fortinet solutions) improved visibility, compliance outcomes, and operational resilience. Overall, it positions cybersecurity as a core element of public safety and service continuity in critical infrastructure.