Preparing for Cyber Incidents with Physical Effects

Cyber weapons have been used to steal billions of dollars of intellectual property, influence elections, manipulate news and damage critical infrastructure. Yet, we think of cyberattacks as only a technology problem, which are handled by smart computer network technicians capable of discovering a breach and developing patches to mitigate the problem. Certainly, technical solutions are a big part of cyber preparedness. But what if cyberattacks combine denial of services in cyberspace with targeted attacks on critical infrastructure, causing massive damage and loss of life in the physical world? This article will explore how federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private corporations, are using tabletop exercises, functional simulations and war gaming to prepare for significant cyberattacks. These programs examine how public and private sectors adapt to extreme cyber events. In a connected world, adaptive incident managers quickly form networks to exchange ideas, align core efforts and foster public communication.