Hurricane Sandy provided a real-time, real life example of what can happen with almost any disaster. In particular, it showed the flaws and strengths of computer network based controls for a variety of systems ranging from gas pumps at a convenience store to the controls operating the largest utility.
Cyber Security Expert Addressed Lessons Learned from Hurricane Sandy at Chicago Confab
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Cyber Security Expert Addressed Lessons Learned from
Hurricane Sandy at Chicago Confab
Hurricane Sandy provided a real-time, real life example of what can happen with almost any disaster. In particular, it
showed the flaws and strengths of computer network based controls for a variety of systems ranging from gas pumps
at a convenience store to the controls operating the largest utility.
The lessons of Sandy were thoroughly discussed on Sept. 25 in Chicago at the ASIS International conference by
cyber security guru Raj Goel. Mr. Goel said the devastation wrought on the infrastructure of the region and the
rebuilding efforts gave computer experts there an up close and personal view of what can happen.
“Now this was a natural disaster and look what happened. If this had been a terrorist attack, it could have been just
as bad. If it had been a concerted attack on the computer systems which ran the utilities and other services, the
actual property destruction would be less, but the damage overall would be extremely bad,” he said.
With power, water and gas systems increasingly run by computer and over the Internet, if hackers took control of
those systems they could cause power outages, cut water off and in combination with gas line regulations, possibly
create huge fires, he said.
“This is real. This is not some pie-in-the sky make believe kind of stuff. If computer techs do not keep security
protocols in place and current and constantly monitor for threats and attacks, a disaster is going to happen,” Mr. Goel
said. “At the conference, I’ll discuss ways to make systems more secure and keep them that way.”
“Many of the tools to protect our organizations and users are deployed and in use already. Join the conference as I
share techniques from our peers in making the best use of our past investments to mitigate these risks and more,” he
said.
The ASIS International conference was Sept. 24-27 at McCormick Place, Chicago. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniack
and former Australia Prime Minister John Howard are the keynote speakers. For more information about the
conference visit https://www.securityexpo.org/Pages/default.aspx .
ABOUT RAJ GOEL - Raj Goel, CISSP, is an IT and information security expert with over 20 years of experience
developing security solutions for the banking, financial services, health care, and pharmaceutical industries. A well-
known authority on regulations and compliance issues, Raj has presented at information security conferences across
the USA and Canada.
For more information about Mr. Goel and his work, please visit www.brainlink.com . For more information about ASIS,
visit https://www.asisonline.org .
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