System Update #208: Remember Colonial Pipeline ⚠️

Remember Colonial Pipeline

Remember the Colonial Pipeline hack back in May 2021? It was a real eye-opener for many of us about how vulnerable our infrastructure can be to cyberattacks. The hackers, using ransomware called DarkSide, managed to shut down the pipeline, which supplies nearly half of the East Coast’s fuel. This led to a cascade of issues, especially for small businesses that rely heavily on fuel.

Imagine running a small delivery service and suddenly finding out that gas stations are either out of fuel or have long lines stretching around the block. That’s exactly what happened to many business owners. One bakery owner in North Carolina shared how they had to limit their delivery routes because they couldn’t get enough gas. It wasn’t just about the inconvenience; it was about keeping their business afloat during an already challenging time.

Gas prices surged, leading some to fill plastic bags with fuel in panic. Small business owners faced higher costs; some shut down operations temporarily, adjusted delivery schedules, or otherwise made due.

The Colonial Pipeline hack underscored the vital role of cybersecurity for businesses of all sizes. It revealed the interconnectedness of our systems and how disruptions can have widespread effects. For small business owners, it stressed the importance of having contingency plans and staying aware of potential risks to their operations.

This attack significantly affected a crucial resource we use daily, and the FBI investigation was widely covered. This year, we've also seen attacks on Change Healthcare, Ascension Health System, United Health, and Cannes Hospital—disrupting patient care. A hack on CDK Global crippled car service and sales nationwide for weeks, while breaches of Microsoft Executives' accounts impacted government agencies and state secrets.

We can’t let Cyber-attacks become a normalized part of life any more than we can let physical or violent crime become normalized. Their impacts are not nebulous, they happen in the real world.

I've put together three takeaways and next steps:

1. It’s Personal
Cyber-attacks keep kids out of school, they impact parents’ ability to earn an income, buy gas, access medical care, or insurance reimbursements.

2. It’s Economic
Cyber-attacks disrupt businesses' ability to serve customers, leading to unserviced cars, difficulties in buying gas and groceries, and potential unemployment due to business closures.

3. It’s Patriotic
The primary dictate of the federal government is to protect our sovereignty as a nation. We wouldn’t allow other nations to paratrooper in agents to steal our military and economic secrets; which were created by people working in their jobs… But we do allow them to do the digital equivalent. This creates economic challenges that impact people’s standard of living and weaken our national defenses against physical and economic foes.