Water Plant Cyberattack is Wake Up Call, 20 Years in the Making

Bracewell’s David Springer discussed with Bloomberg Law how a recent cyberattack on a Florida water treatment plant underscores the need for strong security protections at the municipal level.

There’s been a “marked increase” in the last couple of years in cyber incidents against state and local government entities, said Springer.

On February 5, local authorities said a hacker gained access to an Oldsmar, Florida city computer and changed the level of sodium hydroxide, also known as lye.

“A number of people have been calling this incident a wake-up call, but there have been reported attacks like this for 20 years now,” Springer explained. “I’m glad it’s bringing attention to the security of industrial and municipal control systems.”

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