Pipeline Security: Biden Administration Begins Promulgating Rules To Protect Critical U.S. Infrastructure From Cyberattacks

Attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure have been on the rise. On April 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that certain advanced persistent threat actors have exhibited the capability to gain full system access to multiple industrial control system/supervisory control and data acquisition devices. The agencies encouraged energy companies to enhance their cyber defenses.

In May 2021, Colonial Pipeline Co. experienced a cyberattack that shut down their entire operations for five days. The impact – disrupted domestic fuel supplies throughout the Northeastern United States and increased costs associated with the transportation of millions of barrels of oil by trucks, rails and vessels. With recent efforts by the Biden Administration and Congress to curb the increasing impacts that foreign adversaries are having on critical