MJ 226(v)- Recent Cyber Attack is Cause for Concern - video

Three reasons this cyber-attack is cause for concern - No early warning systems in place to detect an attempted or actual cyber-attack. This attack was discovered only after the damage had been done. There was no detection mechanism in place to alert of an attack or attack attempt. Without early warning/detection systems, there could be additional attacks on more critical systems at any point...or in progress.  This could have been a probing attack...to evaluate vulnerability and assess reaction/response. A probing attack could indicate a larger cyber attack is on the horizon. Critical infrastructure lacks resiliency. Impact in this case was limited because redundant systems were in place and functional. Our power grid, by comparison, lacks functional redundancies. Had this attack shut down an electric generator or destroyed a vital component of the power grid, the outcomes could have been much more dramatic. More MJ posts on the power grid; Of Power Grids and Black Outs "... [a] power grid/power supply that may be the most vulnerable (critical infrastructure). Several references have indicated that the Nations power grid is the most "at risk" target we have. It stands to reason that the power generation and distribution network in any community would also be at risk..."      Three Planning Problems for 2011 (MJ 12/2010)