ICIT 2021 Fall Briefing--Crossing the Digital Divide | Session 1: Disruptions from the Digital World

The 2021 ICIT Fall Briefing Series will be hosted on-line as a series of three weekly virtual events focused on cyber convergence or integrating physical and cyber security strategies. CISA suggests that business leaders develop a “…holistic security strategy that aligns cybersecurity and physical security functions…”. By bringing together top public and private sector leaders, ICIT is advancing the conversation about the importance of protecting our Nation’s critical infrastructures by hosting thought-provoking dialogue about the impact of cyber-physical attacks.

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Each week will feature presentations and sessions on a different theme.

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Virtual Series:

• Nov. 16 : Disruptions from the Digital World: The impact of ransomware on critical infrastructures
• Nov. 23: Securing the Perimeter: Reconciling zero trust and the expanding attack surface
• Nov. 30: Walking the Line: Balancing innovation and governance

**Attend all three ICIT Virtual Briefings and redeem for a SWAG pack including an assortment of high quality branded items bundled together and a copy of: Securing the Nation's Critical Infrastructures: A Guide for the 2021 Administration.

Disruptions from The Digital World: The Impact Of Ransomware on Critical Infrastructures (Session 1 of 3)

Ransomware as an attack vector increased dramatically, with a 151% increase in 2021 compared to 2020. This session is a post-mortem style discussion on recent ransomware attacks that impacted critical infrastructures. The attacks being discussed with this executive panel are:

• New Cooperative, Inc., an Iowa-based grain cooperative, with a September 16, 2021, attack that shut down animal feeding systems
• San Andreas Regional Center, a California-based healthcare provider, with the July 5, 2021, attack that compromised 57,000 individuals’ personal health information (PHI)
• May 2021, Colonial Pipeline attack halting Eastern seaboard operations resulting in fuel shortages and price spikes
• Howard University suspended campus Wi-Fi services over the Labor Day weekend while investigating an alleged ransomware attack
• Ransomware prevention and mitigation is a reality for public and private sector leaders. Our executive panelists will debrief the incidents from their perspective and discuss the incident response and mitigation opportunities based on the lessons learned from these attacks.

Session Outcomes:

• Strategic analysis of conditions leading to critical infrastructure disrupting attacks
• Awareness of the rise of ransomware as a cyber-physical attack vector
• Understand which critical infrastructure sectors are more susceptible to attack
• Discussion of lessons learned from these attacks
• Gain actionable recommendations for mitigation and integrating cyber risk strategies in your organization