CISA and partners release ‘Cybersecurity Best Practices for Smart Cities’

An international coalition of cybersecurity agencies today announced the publication of “Cybersecurity Best Practices for Smart Cities.”

“Smart cities” may create safer, more efficient and more resilient communities through technological innovation and data-driven decision making, but this opportunity also introduces potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses that — if exploited — could impact national security, economic security, public health and safety, and critical infrastructure operations, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

CISA recommends that organizations implement the best practices in the 13-page guide in alignment with their specific cybersecurity requirements to ensure the safe and secure operation of infrastructure systems, protection of citizen’s private data, and security of sensitive government and business data.

As communities implement smart city technologies, the guidance provides recommendations to balance efficiency and innovation with cybersecurity, privacy protections, and national security.

The term “smart cities” refers to communities that:
• Integrate information and communications technologies, community-wide data, and intelligent solutions to digitally transform infrastructure and optimize governance in response to citizens’ needs; and
• Connect the operational technology managing physical infrastructure with networks and applications that collect and analyze data using information and communications technologies components, such as “internet of things” (IoT) devices, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and 5G.

Joining CISA in publishing the report are the U.S. National Security Agency, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United Kingdom National Cyber Security Centre, the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, and the New Zealand National Cyber Security Centre.