Alabama’s largest water utility coordinates with federal officials after nationwide cyberattacks

Central Alabama Water is taking proactive steps to safeguard local infrastructure following a wave of cyberattacks that have rattled water utilities across the United States.

Federal Alert Issued

The FBI issued a formal warning on Thursday regarding malicious actors targeting controller devices. These attacks have impacted water and wastewater facilities in at least seven states since July 26. According to reports from ABC News, federal investigators are currently looking into potential links between these coordinated strikes and Iranian-backed hackers.

Proactive Defense in Alabama

On Friday, Central Alabama Water confirmed it is in active communication with federal officials to address the emerging threat. Public Relations Manager John Matson emphasized that service reliability and system security remain the organization's primary focus.

"Cybersecurity and service reliability are top priorities, and our team has already coordinated directly with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency regarding the latest threat information and recommended precautions," Matson stated in an email to 205focus.com.

The utility currently operates a robust cybersecurity program that involves constant monitoring of threats. Matson added that the company proactively aligns its defenses with industry best practices by utilizing resources from the American Water Works Association, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, and WaterISAC.