● Covered by 2 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact2 neutral1 positive
New York Funds Water System Cybersecurity; Senate Bill Proposes $300M Annual Federal Aid
Key points
- New York awarded $9M to 153 water systems for cybersecurity.
- Funding helps utilities meet new state cybersecurity standards.
- Senate Democrats introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act.
- The bill proposes $300M annually for water system cybersecurity.
- EPA would gain authority for assessments and corrective actions.
New York State Bolsters Water Infrastructure Security
New York State has announced over $9 million in funding for 153 drinking water and wastewater systems. This initiative, part of the Strengthening Essential Cybersecurity for Utilities and Resiliency Enhancements (SECURE) grant program, aims to fortify defenses against cyberattacks.
The grants will support cybersecurity assessments and the implementation of security upgrades. Recipients will also receive technical assistance from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC). This funding helps utilities adhere to minimum cybersecurity standards introduced by New York in March, which include mandatory training, incident reporting, risk-based protections, and the designation of a cybersecurity lead for larger systems.
Federal Legislation Proposed for National Water Cybersecurity
In parallel, Senate Democrats have introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act, a bill that would allocate $300 million annually to enhance cybersecurity for the U.S. water and wastewater sector. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the legislation.
The proposed bill would grant the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) increased authority to regulate cybersecurity protections, conduct assessments, and require corrective actions for vulnerabilities. It would authorize $300 million each year for cybersecurity improvements through the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds.
Response to Escalating Cyber Threats
Both the state and federal initiatives come in response to recent cyberattacks targeting water infrastructure across the U.S. Governor Kathy Hochul noted that these threats are "real and escalating." Recent incidents have affected at least 30 water and wastewater systems in approximately 12 states, with experts attributing some attacks to groups linked to Iran’s military.
The Water Cyber Shield Act also mandates risk assessments for large systems, expands mandatory cyber incident reporting to state and locally owned facilities, and protects sensitive utility data from public disclosure.
Broader Efforts to Protect Water Systems
Beyond legislative action, other efforts are underway. DEF CON Franklin and the National Rural Water Association have launched the Water Watch Center, which provides cybersecurity services to small utilities. This grassroots project aims to address the vulnerabilities of local utilities, complementing the broader federal and state initiatives to protect critical water infrastructure.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
The daily brief
One email each morning: the day's tech stories, clustered across outlets and summarized. No account needed.
One email a day. Unsubscribe in one click, any time.
Today's brief
Spend a few minutes, get the whole day. Every topic's top stories in one hands-free rundown — listen, watch, or read the transcript.
▶ Play today's brief
New every morning, and the back catalogue is archived by date.
How outlets covered it
Federal lawmakers introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act to expand federal oversight and funding for water infrastructure cybersecurity, granting the EPA authority for assessments and standards. Concurrently, DEF CON Franklin and the National Rural Water Association launched the Water Watch Center to provide cybersecurity services to small utilities, addressing recent cyberattacks on community water systems.
Senate Democrats introduced the Water Cyber Shield Act, a bill that would allocate $300 million annually to enhance cybersecurity for the U.S. water and wastewater sector. This legislation aims to strengthen critical infrastructure defenses following recent cyberattacks on water systems attributed to Iranian-linked groups.
New York State is distributing over $9 million to 153 drinking water and wastewater systems to enhance their cybersecurity defenses. This funding, part of the SECURE grant program, helps utilities meet new state cybersecurity standards and respond to recent cyberattacks targeting water infrastructure across the U.S.