On this week’s Tap Talk, we’re talking about a topic that is becoming ever more important for water utilities: cybersecurity. Steve and Jennifer discuss how essential it is to protect the digital systems at even the smallest of water systems and the basic steps that those smallest utilities can take with Jennifer Lyn Walker, the Director of Infrastructure Cyber Defense for WaterISAC.
Topics Discussed
- Meet Jennifer Lyn Walker: LinkedIn
- Jennifer’s Water Hero: Gus Serino, president of I&C Secure
- What is WaterISAC?
- The dozens of ISACs in other industries
- How often do cyber events happen in water systems?
- EPA 2023 submission and withdrawal of a memo for cybersecurity reviews in water & wastewater utility sanitary surveys
- EPA voluntary guidance for cybersecurity in the water sector
- WaterISAC Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities
- What challenges do small systems face in implementing cybersecurity measures?
- Advice for small systems
- What else should we know about the rapid evolution of water sector cybersecurity?
- WaterISAC
“I think that a lot of people stray away from any [cybersecurity] because they don’t realize that cybersecurity does not have to be about the next shiny thing.”
Jennifer Lyn Walker
Go Further
You’re invited to discuss the episode in our LinkedIn Group. If you decide to share on Twitter, please use the hashtag #TapTalkPodcast. And, of course, make sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.
About the Guest
Jennifer Lyn Walker is the Director of Infrastructure Cyber Defense for WaterISAC. She is a cybersecurity professional with over twenty-three years of experience supporting critical infrastructure organizations from financial services, healthcare, water/wastewater, and governments. She also advises and consults on cyber threats related to homeland security for other critical infrastructure and vital lifeline sectors. Jennifer is experienced in malware analysis, cyber threat intelligence, threat assessments, compliance, cybersecurity awareness, and insider threat protection. She is the primary author of WaterISAC’s 15 Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities. Jennifer holds a BASc in Management Information Systems from Robert Morris University, and is a licensed pilot.
