Federal authorities commence research project to amplify the digital fortitude of rural water facilities, backed by the USDA and the White House.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has expanded its Circuit Rider Program to improve the cybersecurity resilience of rural water systems. Funded with approximately $23.9 million for 2025, the program aims to provide technical assistance, infrastructure updates, and operational support to rural communities [1].
The purpose of the USDA Circuit Rider Program is to deploy experts who travel to rural areas to assist water systems with maintenance, compliance, and modernization challenges, including cybersecurity aspects. These challenges have become increasingly important given the heightened concerns about infrastructure security [2].
In Vermont, the Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA) will provide free, full-time cybersecurity assistance to any public drinking water system in the state as part of a pilot program. This move comes at a critical time, as other states have been forced to grapple with hacks in recent months, suggesting the need for increased cybersecurity measures in water utilities nationwide [3].
The Oregon Association of Water Utilities (ORWA) plays a significant role in this initiative. ORWA leaders, such as CEO Jimmy Seago, recognise the importance of USDA efforts like the Circuit Rider Program in supporting cost-effective and sustainable water system management in rural Oregon [2]. The ORWA emphasises the urgent need for infrastructure updates and leverages USDA support to keep rural water systems operational and financially manageable.
While specific activities for the VRWA are not detailed, associations like VRWA typically function as regional partners implementing the Circuit Rider Program by connecting USDA resources and expertise with local water systems, providing training, and facilitating technical assistance to enhance infrastructure and resilience.
The VRWA has been providing cybersecurity training to local utilities for years, and the pilot program in Vermont will allow the VRWA to provide hands-on assistance to under-resourced facilities.
In addition to the Circuit Rider Program, new pilot programs such as the Energy Circuit Rider Pilot have been funded to address energy efficiency and economic development in rural communities. This indicates expanding USDA efforts to provide comprehensive technical assistance via circuit riders, potentially enhancing cyber and infrastructure resilience [4].
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director launched a study last week to improve the cyber resilience of rural water systems. The study, which will last one year and be conducted in partnership with the National Rural Water Association, aims to better understand the cybersecurity capacity of rural water utilities before and after engagement with cybersecurity-focused Circuit Riders [5].
It is worth noting that most water utilities in Vermont are too small to have their own IT staff, making it unrealistic for water operators to become cybersecurity experts. The expanded cybersecurity program and the support from associations like the VRWA and ORWA will be crucial in addressing this gap.
American Water Works, the nation's largest regulated water utility, temporarily took some systems offline after attackers gained access to its computer network [6]. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has warned that hackers have targeted water utilities using poor configurations, relying on default passwords, leaving their systems exposed to the internet, and failing to use multifactor authentication [7].
In conclusion, the USDA's expanded Circuit Rider Program is a significant step towards improving the cybersecurity resilience of rural water systems. The pilot program in Vermont, led by the VRWA, will provide hands-on assistance to under-resourced facilities, addressing the gap in cybersecurity expertise in many rural water utilities. The study launched by the USDA and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of these efforts.
- The USDA's Circuit Rider Program is focused on science and technology, particularly cybersecurity, as it aims to enhance the cybersecurity resilience of rural water systems.
- The expansion of the USDA's Circuit Rider Program in 2025 will allocate around $23.9 million for technical assistance, infrastructure updates, and operational support to rural communities.
- The Vermont Rural Water Association (VRWA) is providing free, full-time cybersecurity assistance to any public drinking water system in Vermont, highlighting the importance of health-and-wellness and personal-finance in ensuring safe water supplies.
- The Oregon Association of Water Utilities (ORWA) recognizes the significance of the USDA's Circuit Rider Program in supporting cost-effective and sustainable water system management, emphasizing the role of business and finance in rural Oregon.
- Water systems in rural areas face maintenance, compliance, and modernization challenges, including cybersecurity aspects, and the Circuit Rider Program aims to address these issues, demonstrating the intersection of lifestyle, fitness-and-exercise, and weather in maintaining water system resilience.
- The VRWA has been providing cybersecurity training to local utilities for years, demonstrating the organization's commitment to education-and-self-development and career-development in the field of cybersecurity.
- New pilot programs like the Energy Circuit Rider Pilot aim to address energy efficiency and economic development in rural communities, indicating the USDA's broader focus on home-and-garden and technology.
- The USDA and the White House Office of the National Cyber Director have launched a study to improve the cyber resilience of rural water systems, incorporating insights from travel and self-development via the National Rural Water Association.
- The cybersecurity threats posed to water utilities, as demonstrated by the temporary shutdown of American Water Works' systems, underscore the need for shopping and investing in cybersecurity measures to protect infrastructure and ensure a reliable supply of water.
