Cyber Security
The growing number of attacks on our cyber networks has become, in President Obama's words, "one of the most serious economic and national security threats our nation faces." Cyber and physical threats to information security and critical infrastructure are increasingly complex, evasive, and destructive. Worse, many organizations are reluctant to focus on cybersecurity because it is not directly related to sales revenue or because its benefits are often underappreciated until it is too late. From a strategic perspective, failing to recognize and mitigate cyber-threats can irreparably damage a system’s availability and integrity. Confidentiality and reliability of data are of utmost importance to customers in both the private and public sectors. Cybersecurity, comprised of security, controls, and a well-established security plan, ensures that an organization’s core systems are more resilient against emerging threats in the long run, and better equipped to continue operations in the event of a failure or breach.
Why should Mass Transit be concerned?
Securing cyber related networks and critical infrastructure is paramount to protecting our transit environment. Several network vulnerabilities have allowed malicious attackers to infiltrate various transit systems. Similar attacks have already bypassed fare collection equipment, and have the potential to disable critical components, thus threatening our operations and security environment.
What is our industry doing to address the problem?
The American Public Transportation Association, with the support of our government partners, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), is proactively working to create recommended practices and guidance to protect our industry. APTA has created a new Cyber Security Working Group that accompanies the existing Control and Communications Subcommittee. Both work groups will address different aspects of cyber security. This initiative is strategically planned through a coordinated effort with internal and external members.