CISA Guide to Pandemic Response: Critical Infrastructure Operations Centers and Control Rooms
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released a guide, Critical Infrastructure Operations Centers and Control Rooms Guide for Pandemic Response, geared towards all 16 critical infrastructure sectors. The guide provides considerations and mitigation measures for operation centers and control rooms, but can be applied further to any critical node that is required to continue functioning in a pandemic environment.
According to CISA, operations centers and control rooms often operate 24/7, depend on unique equipment, and require specially trained staff who are difficult to replace. As a result, specialized equipment and long lead times required to train personnel mean there is a higher risk to sustaining reliable operations, says the guide. Fortunately, operations centers and control rooms are generally isolated and physically secure, and may be more conducive to the sequestration of on-site staff if needed.