A bill to take the most critical parts of critical infrastructure offline will get a hearing from a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on July 12.
The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act — introduced on June 6 by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Susan Collins, R-Maine, Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Jim Risch, R-Idaho — suggests the most sensitive processes at power plants and other critical infrastructure should be disconnected from networks to make them immune to cyberattacks.
The bill would employ a “retro approach,” switching out digital systems like supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for analog, human-oriented processes.
“National security officials and cyber experts have repeatedly warned us about the dangerous impact a cyberattack could have on major components of our national infrastructure, like our electric grid,” King said. “That’s why it’s critical that we move now to examine ways to strengthen our defenses and why I am pleased the Subcommittee on Energy has agreed to take up our legislation next week.”
The hearing will be held at 2:30 p.m. on July 12, led by Risch and subcommittee ranking member Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Photo courtesy Flickr user Cliff.
