The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued new guidance warning that US critical infrastructure operators face relentless intrusion attempts from nation-state actors whose ambitions go well beyond espionage.
CISA has reiterated that adversaries have already embedded themselves inside critical systems and telecommunications networks, positioning themselves to cripple the operational technology (OT) that keeps American society running should a wider geopolitical conflict erupt.
In response, the agency launched CI Fortify, an initiative designed to ensure that essential service providers such as public health, national defense, and economic systems can continue operating even during an active cyberattack.
The program is built on the assumption that in a conflict scenario, internet access, vendors, and third-party service providers may all become unreliable, while hostile actors retain a foothold within OT networks.
At the heart of CI Fortify are two capabilities that operators are urged to begin developing immediately. The first, isolation, involves deliberately severing connections to outside networks and business systems to prevent an attack from spreading to OT. The goal is to avoid a complete shutdown and establish an operating mode capable of sustaining delivery of essential services for weeks or even months in isolation.
The second capability, recovery, focuses on what happens when isolation alone is not enough. Operators are advised to thoroughly document their systems, maintain up-to-date backups, and regularly rehearse restoring compromised components or switching to manual operations.
CISA Acting Director Nick Andersen called on operators to review the guidance, put its recommendations into practice, and work directly with the agency to harden defenses.
“The emphasis on isolation and recovery is important for maintaining continuity during disruption, particularly as critical infrastructure is increasingly in the crosshairs of geopolitical tension and AI accelerates how quickly vulnerabilities can be exploited,” said Duncan Greatwood, CEO of Xage Security.
“However, if organizations don’t have control within the environment, then isolation on its own is not enough. Threats will often move through trusted connections, third parties, or compromised credentials long before a crisis response begins. The focus on segmentation and maintaining operations even in a degraded state is a meaningful step forward and more aligned with how these environments actually function,” Greatwood added.
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