Cyber-Security and the Changing Landscape of Critical National Infrastructure: State and Non-state Cyber-Attacks on Organisations, Systems and Services

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

The main aim of this chapter is to identify and explore key issues relating to cyber-attacks on critical national infrastructure. The chapter commences by clarifying the term critical national infrastructure. It then proceeds to highlight the rise in international incidents of cyber-attacks on critical national infrastructure. Vignette case studies, drawn from countries such Australia, USA, Ukraine and the UK are integrated into the analysis for illustrative purposes. The chapter emphasises the need for more attention to be placed on the vulnerabilities of critical national infrastructure in the light of trends such as the convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology systems and the increasing use of Internet of Things (IoT) devices as a means of bringing systems online. Further, the chapter draws attention to the relatively low entry cost of engaging in cyber-attacks using malware, in contrast to the relatively high cost and logistical complexity of mounting physical attacks on well protected critical national infrastructure sites. One of the main conclusions drawn from the analysis is the extent to which addressing vulnerabilities in critical national infrastructure cyber-systems is likely to involve a wide range of actors, such as State-level emergency planners, manufacturers of IoT devices, and white hat hackers.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationApplications for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Forensics in National Security
EditorsReza Montasari
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer Cham
Chapter5
Pages67-89
Number of pages23
ISBN (Electronic)9783031401183
ISBN (Print)9783031401206
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Sept 2023

Publication series

NameAdvanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications
VolumePart F1417
ISSN (Print)1613-5113
ISSN (Electronic)2363-9466

Keywords

  • CNI
  • critical national infrastructure
  • cyber warfare
  • cyber-attacks
  • IIoT
  • IT
  • Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
  • information technology
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • IoT
  • OT
  • operational technology
  • Prevent
  • proxies
  • ransomware
  • state sponsored
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

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