Page 37 - Cyber Defense eMagazine for September 2020

According to the NTI's rankings, the U.S. achieved ninth place in securing materials and seventh in
protecting facilities. Those results indicate that the country's relatively safe when it comes to nuclear
facilities, but there's still some work to do. For both categories, the NTI recommends that the U.S. pay
more attention to its cybersecurity.

The U.S. has specific regulations for access security in high-risk sites like these facilities, and
cybersecurity is no different. Atomic power plants have to meet requirements from the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (USNRC). While the NTI praises this step, it notes how the nation needs to
mandate regular cybersecurity assessments.

For all their regulations, the U.S. doesn't require frequent testing of cybersecurity systems. Given the
evolving nature of cybercrime and the sensitivity of nuclear facilities, that's quite the risk. The NTI also
recommends that the U.S. mandate regular assessments of sites' security cultures.

About the NTI

The NTI came about in 2001, founded by former senator Sam Nunn and CNN founder Ted Turner.
Working with experts and governments around the world, the NTI works to assess global nuclear threats
and establish a framework to address these dangers. While cybersecurity isn't their only point of focus,
it's become a more prominent one as cyberthreats have grown.

Security, business, science and international diplomacy experts make up the NTI's board of trustees.
They also feature a panel of world leaders from governments and academic institutions to assess these
issues accurately. The Nuclear Security Index, their primary publication, has come out since 2012.

The Index covers three different areas: countries with nuclear materials, those with nuclear facilities and
those that could be safe havens for illegal nuclear activity. Those categories include 22, 47 and 154
nations, respectively, with some overlap. Some countries provide data directly to the NTI, while publicly
accessible data fills in the gaps.

Cybersecurity Is Essential in a Digital World

Fear of nuclear fallout may not be as high as it once was, but it's still a relevant concern. With the rise of
cybercrime, these fears may grow again, especially as some nations struggle to meet security standards.
In any industry, cybersecurity is now essential, and atomic materials are no different.

Without strong cybersecurity standards, any kind of facility could be at risk of an attack. With assets as
risky as nuclear materials, these standards are even more crucial. If the world wants to avoid a
catastrophic nuclear event, these facilities will need better cybersecurity.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2020 Edition 37
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