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American goverment officials for the Department of Homeland Security chose Illinois University and its researchers to head a research program for developing and upgrading the security systems being used in strategic infrastructure facilities, such as powerplants. In the research programs, which has $20 million invested, researchers are looking to resolve the problem that may occur on the day that critical infrastructures might experience a serious malfunction or be prevented from functioning properly, whether because of a cyber attack or a natural disaster.
In the past, when technological infrastructure which operates important facilities crucial for a normal function of everyday life was first being developed, the issue of cyber threats wasn’t as crucial as it is today. “Our goal is to address the systematic challenges we face in making sure that infrastructures that modern life depends on continue to work, even in the face of disruptions”, says a researcher of the university team in charge of the project.
In a world where cyber threats are getting to be more substantive, a lot of thought is being put into developing and upgrading the technological means meant to prevent the systems from collapsing and normal day-to-day life from keeping its course. Today, cyber threats are posed from a wide range of source, such as hackers who are identified with ISIS and are inspired by the Islamic terror ogranization. Another example is in states that commit cyber attacks for their own interests, like how Russia is being suspected in hacking a French television channel last April. It is no wonder, then, that powerful countries, like the U.S., are spending a fortune on improving their defence infrastructure from the threats of this brave new technological world.
