The new cyber risk challenging America’s water: Modernization itself
January 21, 2026
In a guest column for Water Online, Richard Hake stresses the importance of security keeping pace with innovation
Water utilities have made significant strides in modernizing and securing their systems over the past decades. Embracing digital transformation has been necessary to improve efficiency, resilience, and service delivery. It’s also positioned utilities to respond quickly and effectively as cybersecurity threats evolve.
The integration of IT and OT systems has unlocked significant benefits—from enhanced operational visibility to smarter decision-making—and reflects years of hard work and commitment to innovation. This progress is a foundation for the next phase: strengthening defenses in a rapidly changing threat landscape.
As adversaries grow more sophisticated, utilities are not starting from scratch. They are building on a decade of modernization, leveraging advanced tools, and applying lessons learned to protect critical infrastructure. The challenge ahead is not about past vulnerabilities but about continuing the collaborative journey to ensure security keeps pace with innovation. Together, the industry can accelerate protective measures without sacrificing the efficiency and reliability that modernization has delivered.
AI has only proliferated more since then.
