American Gas Association issued the following announcement.
The world is changing around us. For IT professionals, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent increase in telework have presented new opportunities for cyber-criminals. As data from NETSCOUT has shown, and rightly pointed out in an article by Lisa Martine Jenkins at Morning Consult, utilities worldwide have noticed a 595 percent year-over-year increase in distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Natural gas utilities planned for this. We partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2013 to create the Downstream Natural Gas Information Sharing and Analysis Center (DNG-ISAC) to help manage and filter incoming threats to the natural gas distribution system.
In Spring 2012, the Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team (ICS-CERT) contacted the American Gas Association about a major cyber campaign aimed at domestic natural gas pipeline computers. Some natural gas operation networks had already been compromised and AGA scrambled to compile lists and alert member companies to ICS-Cert guidelines.
Not long after, the AGA Board of Directors created the Downstream Natural Gas ISAC.
The AGA information technology department is diligent about incoming threats to the organization and we have enlisted the help of experts, and one in particular, John Bryk. John is the dedicated cyber and physical threat intelligence analyst. Together with myself we help maintain continuity on the site and with members. John also participates in monthly classified calls with the U.S. Department of Energy, the ONG-ISAC and E-ISAC, to discuss cyber threats.
Since its creation, the DNG-ISAC has existed as a one-stop-shop for members to get actionable intelligence and guidance on cybersecurity and physical threats. In an industry that is consistently working to make itself more secure and better equipped to handle threats, the DNG-ISAC plays a critical role.
There are always threats on the horizon. Natural gas utilities are constantly working to keep customers, workers and their communities safe.
Original source can be found here.
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