GAINESVILLE, FL – The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) announced that it is expanding its first-of-its-kind water utility pilot program to support the State of Florida’s efforts to secure critical infrastructure. The program will be available at no cost to utilities across Florida’s five Water Management Districts. The announcement was made at the Florida Institute for Cybersecurity (FICS) Research Summit on Cybersecurity for Small Business.
CRI’s Water Utilities Pilot Program, undertaken in partnership with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and supported by Microsoft, is designed to help small and medium-sized utilities in Florida build cyber-resilience for regional community water systems and publicly owned treatment works. By adopting the CRI Cyber Readiness Program, these utilities will be better positioned to protect public health and safety from potential cyber threats.
More than 90 utility companies from 23 states participated in the first phase of the pilot program, which began in August 2023. More than three-quarters (76%) of participating utilities reported that the first phase of the pilot program had a “high” to “very high” impact on their organizations by improving cybersecurity posture and resilience. Key insights and learnings from the first pilot have been incorporated into the design of this next phase of the pilot.
“As concerns about public health and safety grow nationwide, the participation of Florida in this program will not only enhance the security of vital infrastructure across the state but also contribute valuable insights that will strengthen resilience on a national scale,” said Karen S. Evans, managing director of Cyber Readiness Institute. “CRI commends Florida’s commitment to bolstering cybersecurity in critical infrastructure and we look forward to partnering to build stronger, more resilient water systems in the state.”
“It is essential that the state of Florida not go it alone as we work to strengthen the cyber defenses of our critical infrastructure, especially our water systems,” said Pedro Allende, Secretary of the Florida Department of Management Services. “Efforts like this pilot program are critical to protecting our state’s most essential services and contributing to a national effort to bolster critical infrastructure. From my time working with members of CRI at the Department of Energy, I believe deeply in this approach. It is proven and it works.”
“The Florida Institute for Cybersecurity (FICS) Research Summit on Cybersecurity for Small Business played a vital role in bringing together stakeholders from small and medium businesses and critical infrastructure sectors, and we are thankful for the support from CRI and DMS to be able to provide a forum for this important interaction. Through facilitating discussions and offering practical expertise and solutions as the nexus for cybersecurity research in the state of Florida, we continue to contribute to the strengthened security and resilience of our state’s essential systems,” said Dr. Kevin Butler, Director of FICS at the University of Florida.
For more information on the Cyber Readiness Institute and the Water Utilities Pilot Program, visit https://cyberreadinessinstitute.org/water-utilities-cyber-ready-training/
About Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI):
The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) is a non-profit initiative that provides free cybersecurity tools for small and medium-sized businesses. CRI’s tools and resources focus on human behavior and emphasize employee education and awareness to improve the security of global supply chains. The Institute is housed within the Center for Global Enterprise, a New York-based non-profit applied research organization. Member companies include Apple, Mastercard, Microsoft, T-Mobile, and Principal Financial Group. ExxonMobil and PSP Partners are founding members that continue to support the objectives and programs of CRI.
For more information about the Cyber Readiness Institute and its member companies, please visit https://cyberreadinessinstitute.org.
About the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD): The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a non-partisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy. FDD provides policy solutions to government leaders and the private sector to address cyber vulnerabilities, critical infrastructure threats, and broader security issues.
