CISA, FEMA Issue Guidance for Emergency Response Cyber Resilience

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have released a joint guidance designed to help state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers increase cyber preparedness.

The “Planning Considerations for Cyber Incidents: Guidance for Emergency Managers” guidance informs SLTT emergency responders of various kinds of cyber incidents, their causes, ways to assess and plan against risks, emergency personnel’s role during a cyber incident and the importance of communicating such threats. It also includes tips on developing and reviewing cyber resilience plans.

The guidance was developed so emergency managers are aware of the importance of understanding and preparing for potential cyber incidents affecting communities and emergency operations, CISA said Tuesday.

Government agencies across the United States have been developing guidance to promote cybersecurity in various sectors.

In June, the National Institute of Standards and Technology announced plans to publish new cybersecurity guidance for the water and wastewater sector in 2024. As part of the guidance development, NIST will choose partners that would identify tools and practices that can address cyber challenges associated with asset management, data integrity, remote access and network segmentation.

Earlier in the month, CISA and the National Security Agency released an information sheet designed to help baseboard management controllers protect their systems from cyberthreats.