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DIGITAL LIBRARY

A collection of past CRDR projects, events, news, & resources

Interdependencies Workshop: Long-Term Power Outage

5/23/2019

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The Coronal Mass Ejection Long-term Power Outage workshop was held in Seattle, Washington on May 23, 2019. Funding was provided by the Washington State Homeland Security Region 6 Critical Infrastructure Working Group from the FFY 2017 State Homeland Security Program from the Department of Homeland Security via Washington State Military Department and King County Office of Emergency Management. It was designed as a full-day workshop that included speakers presenting information on the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) hazard and warnings systems, impacts from regional power outages, current planning efforts and engagement of the audience in breakout discussions exploring how to address the hazard and mitigate potential impacts.

​This interdependencies workshop focused on a long-term electrical system blackout caused by a CME event striking North America. While most power outage planning revolves around other natural hazard events like windstorms, earthquakes, or terrorism, this exercise took a look at a long-term power outage with widespread impacts to urban, suburban, and rural communities. While concentrating on critical infrastructure, the human impacts to people and systems such as our healthcare institutions was also included in the workshop. Participants were briefed on the current planning the Washington State Department of Commerce Energy Office is conducting on fuel prioritization and hybrid electrical systems. The Washington State Emergency Management Division provided insight on the catastrophic planning conducted by the State to address a CME scenario. 

​NOAA Space Weather Prediction Warning Center estimates a G5 Geomagnetic Storm will cause the following types of impacts:
​Power systems: Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur, some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage.
Spacecraft operations: May experience extensive
surface charging, problems with orientation, uplink/downlink and tracking satellites.
Other systems: Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF (high frequency) radio propagation may be
impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be degraded for days, low-frequency
radio navigation can be out for hours, and aurora has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas (typically 40° geomagnetic lat.).
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Image: Courtesy NASA

Associated Materials

FEMA Region 10 Power Grid Risk Profile
In 2018, National Preparedness partnered with the DHS Critical Infrastructure Resiliency Institute (CIRI) through the University of Illinois on a Region X Power Grid Risk Profile. The final document has now been released and is available for distribution. The project was a great attempt at peeling back some of the first layers into addressing potential catastrophic power outages in the region. Download the profile.

You may also view a webinar by the lead researcher available here.
U.S. Geological Survey
READ: New U.S. Geological Survey Report Assesses Risk of Once-Per-Century Geomagnetic Superstorm to the Northeastern United States- March 5, 2019
​Electromagnetic Defense Task Force-2018 Report
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Read the 2018 Electromagnetic Defense Task Force Report from the United States Air Force Air University and the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education
Geomagnetic Storm Threat to the Electrical System
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View the Geomagnetic Storm Threat to the Electrical System Presentation Here.
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2019 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Summit

4/29/2019

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Overview

More than 300 cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, and public and private sector members met in Boise for the 5th Annual Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Summit. The Idaho Office of Emergency Management and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region's Center for Regional Disaster Resilience collaborated to develop public/private sector partnerships for resilience in the state of Idaho through this multi-year series. The series has expanded cybersecurity capabilities of small business, government, and large industry throughout the state of Idaho.

The 2019 Summit increased cybersecurity resilience through collaboration among all stakeholders. Participants heard from several key regional cybersecurity leaders, then participated in a cybersecurity focused court case enactment to better understand the implications of cybersecurity for infrastructure. 

View the Summit Agenda
​View the Summit Flyer
The Issues:
  • Development of cyber incident response plans
  • Emerging cyber threats
  • Identifying cross-sector interdependencies
  • Communication and collaboration to build cyber resilience
  • Building a diverse IT workforce
The Participants:
  • C-level, Legal, IT, and HR professionals
  • Private Sector: utilities, transportation, education
  • Expert speakers from inside and outside Idaho
  • Government officials

Speakers and Presentations

  • Idaho National Laboratory's Energy Security Initiatives & Cybercore Integration Center
    • Wayne Austad, Technical Director of Cybercore Integration Center, Idaho National Laboratory
  • Protecting Cyber Infrastructure from the Seafloor Up
    • Michael Boyle, Strategic Planning Director, Westin Building Exchange
  • Ransomware Briefing on Specific Case Studies
    • Doug DePeppe, LLM, JD, eosedge Legal
  • The Public Infrastructure Security Collaboration and Exchange System: PISCES
    • Mike Hamilton, CISO, Founder, and President of CI Security
  • Are you concerned about your printer security? You should be.
    • Lindsey Hearst, Print Security Advisor, HP
  • Turning the Tables
    • Dean Iacovelli, Director, Secure Enterprise, Microsoft State and Local Government
  • National Cyber Exercise and Planning Program: Cyber Exercises
    • Ron Watters, Cybersecurity Advisor of Region X, Department of Homeland Security
  • Idaho Information Technology Services
    • Jeff Weak, Administrator, Idaho Office of Information Technology Services

Court Case Enactment
The Federal Dam Agency: Contractors and Inside Jobs

Click on the links below to view the materials used during the Court Case Enactment during the 5th Annual Idaho Interdependencies Summit.

Educational Slides
Dam Shame PowerPoint
FNL Dam Agency Jury Instructions

Thank you to our Summit Sponsors

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2018 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Summit

4/26/2018

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Summary

Over 200 attendees explored the growing challenges of cybersecurity and its impact on overall economic and physical security at the one-day workshop hosted by the Idaho Office of Emergency Management and the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience. In the face of emerging risks to economic and national security, action is needed to address critical regional infrastructure interdependencies. This workshop is part of a continuing series intended to build public-private partnerships and advance Idaho's resilience to cyber threats. 

The workshop featured an interactive tabletop board game exercise to facilitate discussion on cybersecurity planning, policy, and simulate outcomes from significant cyber incidents. Participants learned from experienced technical and policy professionals and identified gaps in their own cybersecurity planning.

View the Agenda
View the Report

Agenda

  • Update on Idaho's new cybersecurity strategy. Learn more about what Idaho is doing.
  • Speakers and keynote addresses from high-level Idaho government officials and private sector business leaders. Hear from key government officials and influential Idaho businesses.
  • Interactive tabletop board game simulation and self-assessment tool. The interactive game will  help you to identify best practices and gaps in cyber security planning and policy.
  • Learn about current and future trends in cyber security. Hear from major Idaho employers and other panelists on current trends and how to prepare for future threats.
  • Discussion of cyber incident reporting, protocols, and available State and Federal resources. Find out what to do during a major cyber incident and learn how situational awareness can make Idaho more resilient to cybersecurity incidents.
  • Strengthening partnerships between local, country, state, federal, and private sector partners. Planning ahead and working across jurisdictions is critical to ensuring the resilience of the region.
  • Networking opportunities with public and private sector stakeholders. Learn about your interdependencies and find out who you need to know before a disaster. 
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2016 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Workshop

9/12/2016

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The 2016 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Workshop explored the growing challenges of cybersecurity and its impact on overall economic and physical security. Hosted by the Idaho Office for Emergency Management and the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience, this meeting also featured a special track for small business leaders.

​Idaho Cyber Interdependencies Agenda
Small Business Information

In the face of emerging risks to economic and national security, action is needed to address crucial regional infrastructure interdependencies in energy, telecommunications, transportation, water systems and other infrastructures. Third in a three year series meant to develop an Idaho Partnership for Infrastructure Security, the workshop advances several cross-sector initiatives. 

One of the outcomes of these meetings was the creation of a stakeholder-prioritized action plan for the state of Idaho that is a culmination of recommendations from workshops, projects, and activities over the past three years. Stakeholders identified these recommendations as high priorities for the state. Recommendations include
  • Develop training materials and a cyber resource website for the State of Idaho
  • Continue to host annual statewide Cyber Interdependencies Workshops
  • Develop a public-private information sharing platform to send alerts, warnings, and share updates with vetted, trusted stakeholders across the state. 
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2015 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Workshop

10/8/2015

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Executive Summary

The Idaho Cyber Security Interdependencies Workshop was held October 8, 2015 in Boise Idaho at the St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center. More than 130 participants from both public and private sectors, and from across the Pacific Northwest, took part in the exercise that focused on current cyber threats, common challenges for securing data and continuing operations despite cyber disruptions.

Idaho Lieutenant Governor Brad Little and Brigadier General Brad Richy, Chief of the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, spoke at the event along with other experts on cyber security preparedness, response, supervisory control and data acquisition systems.
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Through this event, participants sought to improve their own cyber plans by challenging their planning assumptions, gained a greater understanding of their interdependencies and built relationships with others across the state and region.

View the Event Summary and Report
View the Agenda

Background

​This workshop was the second event in a three year initiative to develop a public/private sector partnership for resilience in the state of Idaho. In 2016, Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS) and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR) will develop an Action Plan for the development of an Idaho Public/Private Sector Resilience Partnership.

Meeting Themes and Key Takeaways

One of the most prevalent topics of the workshop was around the need for holistic cyber security—calling on organizations to move cyber security planning beyond the Information Technology departments and involve executive leadership, legal, and human resources. There is a strong need to train all staff members. According to IBM’s 2014 Cyber Security Intelligence Index, 95 percent of all security incidents involve human error. This can take many forms, from clicking on links, giving away passwords, or failing to follow security protocols.

Every company has cyber security risk and should have a cyber security plan. From small businesses to sectors that are not typically seen as cyber focused, like agriculture, there are cyber security risks. There are also many great tools in the State of Idaho for getting assistance in building cyber security plans and responding to cyber security incidents that need to be shared and made more easily accessible to all organizations.

For all organizations, it is essential to have governance and policies around cyber security in place before having to respond to an incident. These would include policies around protecting data and procedure for response, including structure (the incident command system was recommended) and involvement of law enforcement. With these policies in place, organizations can test their systems through exercises and help build a security culture in an organization.

A common theme was the acceptance of breach. Not all information within an organization is equally sensitive and critical. By accepting that some cyber attacks will be successful, and focusing extra levels of security on the most important data, organizations can use their limited resources more effectively.
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Identifying key information is a vital part of assessing the risk in each organization. The risk assessment also includes security protocols, equipment, software, public presence, business type, and all other aspects of a business that might make it an easy or desirable target for cyber attackers. Risk will never be fully eliminated—as long as computers, automation and the internet are needed to complete business tasks, an organization will have cyber risk.  All parts of a cyber plan should attempt to mitigate that risk, while helping identify procedures for protection of critical data and detecting access to or loss of that data. Too often companies don’t know they have been breached until they are informed by an outside agency. 

Recommendations

Based on participant feedback, planning team input, discussion outcomes, and common themes from the day’s speakers, the following recommendations were developed:
  • Develop training materials and regular webinars and other training opportunities to help organizations grow cyber security plans and facilitate information sharing.
  • Provide training for executive leadership, legal departments, human resources, and other key departments to encourage organization-wide cyber security.
  • Grow state-wide knowledge of the Idaho cyber security annex through training and outreach.
  • Provide resources specific to small businesses and sectors where cyber security may not be prioritized (example: agriculture).
  • Develop a single repository for cyber security preparedness information
  • Develop formal partnership for information sharing around cyber security and other critical infrastructure concerns
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2014 Idaho Cybersecurity Interdependencies Workshop

11/13/2014

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Over 115 participants gathered at the Hewlett Packard Campus in Garden City, Idaho on November 13, 2014 for the Idaho Cyber Security Interdependencies Workshop hosted by the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security (IBHS) with assistance from the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Center for Regional Disaster Resilience (CRDR). The one day workshop provided information on current Cyber threats, and best practices utilized to develop organizational Cyber Security plans. Guest speakers, panel discussions, and round table facilitated conversations contributed to a very successful workshop.

The event was developed over the course of four months through a series of conference calls and meetings. The planning team included local public and private sector organizations, including: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), MK Hamilton & Associates, Office of the Idaho State Controller, Office of the Idaho Chief Information Officer, Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, Petso Financial Consultants LLC, University of Idaho, Hewlett Packard, Idaho State Police, Zions Bank, Idaho Transportation Department, and St. Luke’s Health System.

This workshop was the first in a three year initiative to develop a public/private sector partnership for resilience in the state of Idaho. In 2015 IBHS and PNWER CRDR will host a table top exercise to help identify interdependencies and gaps in existing partnerships. Following that, the team will develop a Action Plan for the development of an Idaho Public/Private Sector Resilience Partnership.

View the Event Summary and Report
View the Agenda
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Blue Cascades Interdependencies Exercise Series

6/12/2002

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The Blue Cascades Interdependencies Exercise Series began in 2002 as way for regional stakeholders to proactively identify and strengthen gaps in their infrastructures. The Blue Cascades tabletop exercises are scenario-based discussion events developed by and for key stakeholder organizations that have roles and responsibilities or significant interests in assuring the security and resilience of the Puget Sound Region and the critical infrastructures and essential service organizations that underpin citizens’ health, safety, and economic well-being.

Developed and facilitated by the stakeholders themselves, the Blue Cascades exercises focus on all-hazards.  The chief goal of these tabletop exercises is not to test plans and procedures but rather to raise awareness of infrastructure interdependencies and associated vulnerabilities, impacts, and preparedness gaps, identifying potential solutions to make needed improvements. The After Action Reports of the Blue Cascades Exercises are used to develop Action Plans of stakeholder recommended and prioritized activities. These activities may be short-term (one year or less), medium term (eighteen months to two years), or long-term (multi-year). All require cross-sector, multi-jurisdiction, and in most cases, multi-discipline collaboration and expertise to implement. 
Participants in the Blue Cascades exercises represent all levels of government, utilities, businesses, and other private sector organizations, non-profits, academic, and community institutions.  

Blue Cascades Interdependencies Exercise Series:
  • Blue Cascades I (2002)- Hypothetical terrorist attack on the regional energy sector
    • Read the Blue Cascades I Executive Summary
  • Blue Cascades II (2004)- Cyber threats, disruptions, and impacts
    • Read the Blue Cascades II Executive Summary
    • Read the Blue Cascades II Action Plan
  • Blue Cascades III (2006)- A major subduction zone earthquake
    • Read the Blue Cascades III Executive Summary
    • Read the Blue Cascades III Action Plan 
  • Blue Cascades IV (2007)- Pandemic preparedness
    • Read the Blue Cascades IV Executive Summary
    • Read the Blue Cascades IV Action Plan
  • Blue Cascades V (2008)- Supply chain resilience
    • Read the Blue Cascades V Executive Summary
    • Read the Blue Cascades V Action Plan
  • Blue Cascades VI (2010)- Public health and safety impacts of major flooding
    • Read the Blue Cascades VI Executive Summary
    • Read the Blue Cascades VI Action Plan
  • Blue Cascades VII (2018)- Recovery from a major subduction zone earthquake
    • Read the Blue Cascades VII After Action Report
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