November is Infrastructure Security Month (ISM), and here at DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), we understand the importance of strengthening the nation’s critical infrastructure. Widespread disruption to the energy sector – which all other critical infrastructure sectors rely on to operate – could impact emergency services, running water, the financial sector, and more.
Infrastructure Security Month 2021 will focus on the umbrella theme “Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience: Build it In” to remind organizations and individuals how important it is to consider infrastructure security and resilience from design concept through development and implementation. In fact, in October, DOE launched the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator, a technology partnership of federal experts, industry partners, and innovators to identify and embed critical cybersecurity needs in emerging renewable technologies before they are deployed.
Each week throughout November, CISA will spotlight a different way to think about building security and resilience into critical energy infrastructure.
- Week 1 (November 1-7): Interconnected and Interdependent Critical Infrastructure: Shared risk means building shared responsibility.
- Week 2 (November 8-14): Plan for Soft Target Security: Build security for mass gatherings starting with planning.
- Week 3 (November 15-21): Build Resilience into Critical Infrastructure
- Week 4 (November 22-30): Secure our Elections: Build resilience into our democratic processes.
Everyone plays a role in the nation’s security and resilience. True partnership is integral to protecting the energy assets that supply power to millions of Americans every day. Through public-private collaboration with industry, all levels of government, DOE’s National Laboratories, and the research community, CESER remains committed to advancing security and resilience to evolving threats, technology developments, and trends we are seeing in the U.S. energy sector today.
For more information on how organizations and individuals can join us and take action to ensure our critical infrastructure is safe, secure, and resilient visit, https://www.cisa.gov/infrastructure-security-month
Key Resources
2021 Infrastructure Security Month Toolkit – To learn how you can shine a light on key resources and actions that organizations and individuals can take to strengthen critical infrastructure security and resilience, check out CISA’s ISM Toolkit for resources to share in your communities and with your stakeholders.
State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Program Resource Library – This library is a one-stop-shop for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) partner tools, trainings, guides and resources. A repository of easily sortable information, CESER’s library provides resources to advance and inform SLTT energy security planning, risk awareness, policy and investment decisions, mitigation strategies and emergency response efforts.
Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework - State and local governments as well as critical infrastructure operators can use CISA’s Infrastructure Resilience Planning Framework (IRPF) to better identify critical infrastructure, assess related risks, and develop and implement resilience solutions.
Online Cyber Supply Chain Risk Management Course – Take the free, online course to learn what a supply chain is, how adversaries target supply chains, and steps that individuals and organizations can take to improve supply chain security.