Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
CybersecurityManagementSecurity NewswireCybersecurity News

Implications of the Sunburst cybersecurity attack for transit agencies

transit security
January 22, 2021

In December 2020, the cybersecurity firm FireEye discovered one of the worst cyberattack in the U.S.'s history. While the full ramifications of this attack remain to be seen, the investigation revealed that more than 18,000 organizations may have been breached, including the Department of Defense and computer systems used by state and local governments, and critical infrastructure services such as the San Francisco International Airport.  The new Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) perspective Implications of the Sunburst Cybersecurity Attack addresses the damage caused by this attack and what public and private organizations, including transit agencies, can do to mitigate future attacks.

Although the specific effects of the Sunburst attack on transit agencies is not yet understood, transit agencies have recently been confirmed targets of several other cyberattacks. One such attack on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority in August of 2020 took down its real-time bus and rail information for two full weeks. Another recent, severe attack occurred in 2017 against Sacramento Regional Transit (SaRT) in which SaRT suffered a ransomware attack that crippled its website and destroyed data. Researchers have also previously proven hackers could take over the brakes and controls of vehicles. These instances hint at the potential damage of the Sunburst attack and others.

Moreover, an October 2020 MTI study,  Is the Transit Industry Prepared for the Cyber Revolution? Policy Recommendation to Enhance Surface Transit Cyber Preparedness found most public transit agencies acutely unprepared when facing cybersecurity threats and found that only 60% of agencies had any cybersecurity program in place even though 80% reported they were prepared.

“Cybersecurity is a growing concern for public transit managers, as control and management systems become increasingly dependent on information technology. These systems are vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated direct and indirect cyberattacks. Given these increasing risks, the transit industry and its technology managers must take proper steps to ensure the security of their cyber systems,” says Vice Chair of the APTA Board of Directors Jeff Nelson.

Agencies must prioritize cybersecurity by:

  • Investing in their cybersecurity infrastructure, from effective hiring of cybersecurity expertise to ensuring alignment with the agency’s overall strategy;
  • Educating persons within the organization about cyber-attack risks, especially phishing, which is by far the most common type of cyber-attack; and
  • Requiring vendors to manage their cyber risk by contractually requiring vendors to maintain state-of-the-art cyber protections.

Cyberattacks are ultimately inevitable. Fortunately, agencies can take action to help protect themselves from attacks and to prepare for any breaches that do occur, thus ensuring the critical transportation systems of our nation continue running smoothly and safely.

KEYWORDS: cyber security risk management transportation security

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Enterprise Services
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Technologies & Solutions
    By: Charles Denyer
Manage My Account
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Internal computer parts

Critical Software Vulnerabilities Rose 37% in 2024

Coding

AI Emerges as the Top Concern for Security Leaders

Half open laptop

“Luigi Was Right”: A Look at the Website Sharing Data on More Than 1,000 Executives

Person working on laptop

Governance in the Age of Citizen Developers and AI

Shopping mall

Victoria’s Secret Security Incident Shuts Down Website

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

June 24, 2025

Inside a Modern GSOC: How Anthropic Benchmarks Risk Detection Tools for Speed and Accuracy

For today's security teams, making informed decisions in the first moments of a crisis is critical.

July 17, 2025

Tech in the Jungle: Leveraging Surveillance, Access Control, and Technology in Unique Environments

From animal habitats to bustling crowds of visitors, a zoo is a one-of-a-kind environment for deploying modern security technologies.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • cyber preparedness for transit agencies in U.S.

    Three fifths of transit agencies in the U.S. have a cyber preparedness plan

    See More
  • MTA recruits transit agencies to distribute and enforce mass wearing throughout New York and New Jersey

    New York's MTA teams up with other transit agencies for Regional Mask Force

    See More
  • crit infrastructure 2 feat

    Security Implications of the Electric Smart Grid

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • databasehacker

    The Database Hacker's Handboo

See More Products

Events

View AllSubmit An Event
  • September 3, 2024

    From DDoS Protection to WAAP: How Layered Protection Enhances Your Cybersecurity Strategy

    ON DEMAND: By participating in the webinar, attendees will gain enhanced knowledge of cyber threats and understand the current spectrum of cyber threats facing businesses.
View AllSubmit An Event
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing