Gas pipeline system is part of critical infrastructure in America. This makes it a target of terrorist as its disruption can lead to sabotage of national and economic security. The department of Homeland security (DHS) is mandated to ensure the domestic security of not only the American people but also their properties. Therefore, within DHS there is Transportation Security Administration (TSA). This is the Federal agency that is responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens and commercial goods on transport systems. But this agency does not work in isolation, it cooperates with other Federal, state, local, ethnic and private entities in order to achieve its mission (TSA, n.d.).
The TSA relies on intelligence services from FBI, CIA and other security agencies. The industry private stakeholders are also a source of vital information. Cyberattacks are the main threats of pipeline systems. TSA works with its partners to address the cyber-security vulnerabilities in the pipeline system. For example, in 2021 when the Colonial Pipeline was attacked, TSA worked with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), energy department and FBI to address the situation that had made the pipeline to halt its operations (Sanger, 2021).
SCADA Networks
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is the platform that controls transportation of commerce on pipeline systems. This control system is the main target of cyber attackers. Though it is believed SCADA systems are safe as they tight physical security and are not connected to the internet, unauthorized access of SCADA software and sending of packets remains as the major threats of the control system. this is because anyone capable of accessing the control system software or sending packets to it can control it and cause its disruption. The industry players now use whitelisting of solutions and development of specialized firewalls for SCADA systems using Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol (SCADA Systems, n.d.).
To ensure the safety of Industrial Control Systems (ICS), in this case SCADA systems government agencies at all levels must work together with private entities in the industry. The Federal agencies that must work together to ensure pipeline systems are secure are; CISA, TSA, U.S Coast Guard and Secret Service, U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency, the FBI, FEMA, among others (CISA, 2020). Each agency need to brings its capability that can help to counter cyberattacks of SCADA networks.
Inter-Agency Communications The American security agencies are strong and with diverse capabilities but these agencies coming together to work as a team is the main challenge. Communication breakdown is the major challenge of the U.S. security agencies. In the past situations that demanded these agencies to come together, communication has been something that need to be addressed. To improve interagency communications, the National Interagency
Communication Plan, need to be efficient. It should be clear of who should do what and when (DHS, 2008).
The TSA relies on intelligence services from FBI, CIA and other security agencies. The industry private stakeholders are also a source of vital information. Cyberattacks are the main threats of pipeline systems. TSA works with its partners to address the cyber-security vulnerabilities in the pipeline system. For example, in 2021 when the Colonial Pipeline was attacked, TSA worked with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), energy department and FBI to address the situation that had made the pipeline to halt its operations (Sanger, 2021).
SCADA Networks
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is the platform that controls transportation of commerce on pipeline systems. This control system is the main target of cyber attackers. Though it is believed SCADA systems are safe as they tight physical security and are not connected to the internet, unauthorized access of SCADA software and sending of packets remains as the major threats of the control system. this is because anyone capable of accessing the control system software or sending packets to it can control it and cause its disruption. The industry players now use whitelisting of solutions and development of specialized firewalls for SCADA systems using Transmission Control Protocol and the Internet Protocol (SCADA Systems, n.d.).
To ensure the safety of Industrial Control Systems (ICS), in this case SCADA systems government agencies at all levels must work together with private entities in the industry. The Federal agencies that must work together to ensure pipeline systems are secure are; CISA, TSA, U.S Coast Guard and Secret Service, U.S. Cyber Command and National Security Agency, the FBI, FEMA, among others (CISA, 2020). Each agency need to brings its capability that can help to counter cyberattacks of SCADA networks.
Inter-Agency Communications The American security agencies are strong and with diverse capabilities but these agencies coming together to work as a team is the main challenge. Communication breakdown is the major challenge of the U.S. security agencies. In the past situations that demanded these agencies to come together, communication has been something that need to be addressed. To improve interagency communications, the National Interagency
Communication Plan, need to be efficient. It should be clear of who should do what and when (DHS, 2008).
