Central Alabama Water and Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) test cyber readiness with a tabletop exercise. New secure .gov site boosts safety for customers and critical water systems.
Water is essential to everyday life, and safeguarding that vital resource is a responsibility Central Alabama Water (CAW) takes seriously—both in the water we deliver and the systems that support it.
To strengthen its cybersecurity preparedness, the CAW recently partnered with the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to host a tabletop exercise focused on responding to potential cyber threats. The exercise provided a structured, low-risk environment for attendees to walk through realistic cyber scenario incidents and evaluate how the utility would respond in real time.
The exercise included the CAW’s IT, SCADA, engineering and executive leadership teams, reinforcing the importance of collaboration across departments when facing a cybersecurity crisis.
“We brought them in to talk about different cyber-attacks that can occur, and how our company would respond together to those attacks,” said Trey Finch, SCADA Manager.
As cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure continue to grow, water utilities nationwide are recognizing that cybersecurity extends beyond IT—it is an operational, public safety and leadership priority.
The tabletop exercise was led by Joseph Parker, a cybersecurity advisor with CISA, who highlighted the importance of preparation and practice before an incident occurs.
“We have to practice our plans and programs and our procedures so that we can walk through it in a calm way, and we can think about it when we’re not under stress,” Parker said.
During the session, teams worked through scenarios involving information hacking and ransomware attacks, testing the CAW’s readiness and reinforcing communication and coordination across the organization.
“Cybersecurity is a huge risk nowadays, and as a big company as we are, we need to be prepared to respond to any incidents,” Finch added.
These efforts align with the utility’s ongoing commitment to protecting both its infrastructure and its customers. As part of that commitment, the CAW recently launched its new website at caw-al.gov. The transition to a secure .gov domain provides enhanced security, giving customers greater confidence when managing their accounts and conducting business online.
By investing in training, collaboration and secure technology, Central Alabama Water continues to prioritize the protection of the essential services our community relies on every day.
