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Water and Wastewater Systems are increasingly becoming soft targets for sophisticated cyber attackers. A new joint fact sheet from the EPA and CISA puts this threat front and center, warning utilities about the growing risk of internet-exposed Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs). These essential components of water system operations are now being exploited—especially by state-sponsored and hacktivist groups—to disrupt critical infrastructure.
To help utilities better understand and respond to these risks, MixMode has published a new Threat Research Report focused on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities of HMIs in the water sector. The report outlines the threat landscape, details recent incidents, and provides actionable insights for protecting operational technology using MixMode’s Third-Wave AI.
The Hidden Dangers of Internet-Exposed HMIs
HMIs play a vital role in managing SCADA systems and PLCs across water treatment operations. But when these systems are exposed to the public internet without proper controls, they become a cyberattacker’s entry point.
The threat isn’t hypothetical. In 2024, pro-Russia hacktivists compromised HMIs at multiple U.S. water facilities. They manipulated pump and blower settings, disabled alarms, and locked operators out of their systems—forcing utilities to revert to manual operations and risking public health.
These attacks show how easily exposed HMIs can be discovered through public tools and exploited by adversaries. Many utilities, especially small and mid-sized ones, lack the cybersecurity resources to monitor and defend these systems effectively.
EPA and CISA Recommendations for Securing Water Systems
The EPA and CISA have issued practical, actionable guidance to help water utilities strengthen their cybersecurity posture:
- Inventory and Isolation
- Identify all internet-exposed devices and disconnect HMIs from public-facing access whenever possible. For systems that must remain online, replace default credentials with strong, unique passwords.
- Access Controls
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across HMI and OT systems. Monitor login attempts and flag unusual activity, such as after-hours access or repeated failures.
- Network Segmentation
- Use demilitarized zones (DMZs), bastion hosts, or geo-fencing at the network boundary to restrict unauthorized access and prevent reconnaissance.
- System Hygiene
- Apply regular patches and security updates. Limit HMI access through allowlists that authorize only approved IP addresses.
- External Support
- Follow vendor-specific security guidance and take advantage of free tools like CISA’s vulnerability scanning service to identify weaknesses before attackers do.
These steps form a solid foundation, but alone may not be sufficient for stopping sophisticated adversaries. That’s where advanced, adaptive security solutions become critical.
How MixMode’s Third-Wave AI Strengthens Water System Defense
MixMode’s Third-Wave AI offers a self-contained, real-time solution tailored for critical infrastructure environments like water utilities. It addresses key limitations of traditional cybersecurity tools by eliminating dependence on rules, signatures, and external threat feeds.
- Autonomous Learning
- MixMode’s AI builds a dynamic understanding of your environment’s normal behavior, detecting deviations that indicate compromise—including zero-day attacks and abnormal equipment operations.
- No Manual Tuning Required
- The platform adapts automatically to your network, significantly reducing maintenance burdens for understaffed or resource-constrained utilities.
- Scalable and Infrastructure-Agnostic
- MixMode easily integrates into existing OT environments, offering comprehensive visibility and threat detection across assets without interfering with operations.
By deploying MixMode, water utilities can operationalize many of the EPA and CISA recommendations while gaining the benefit of proactive threat detection and reduced exposure to advanced cyber risks.
Why It Matters
Securing water infrastructure is not only about regulatory compliance—it’s about protecting communities. As the 2024 attacks demonstrated, even smaller utilities can become targets. The consequences of a breach extend far beyond operational downtime, potentially impacting public safety and trust.
Utilities that adopt a layered, AI-powered security approach today will be better prepared to detect and respond to the increasingly sophisticated threats of tomorrow.
From Awareness to Implementation
Water utilities face growing pressure to secure their operational technology. MixMode’s Threat Research Report offers the context, guidance, and solutions needed to take action.
Download the full report to understand the threat landscape, review mitigation recommendations, and see how MixMode’s Third-Wave AI provides real-time protection against the most critical risks in today’s environment.
Visit mixmode.ai to learn more or request a personalized demo.
*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from MixMode authored by MixMode Threat Research. Read the original post at: https://mixmode.ai/blog/what-water-utilities-need-to-know-about-hmi-security-and-ai-solutions/