Critical Infrastructure Security: Protecting the Backbone of Modern Society

A nation’s smooth running depends on the efficacy of its critical infrastructure systems. A single critical infrastructure breach can bring entire cities to a standstill. It can disrupt power, halt transportation, delay healthcare, and shake public confidence.

The UAE saw a 71% increase in cyberattacks on oil and gas systems between 2020 and 2023. Globally, the situation isn’t any better. Governments continually come up with new regulations to help critical infrastructure providers stay a step ahead of cyber threats.

But the solution goes beyond regulations. Providers of critical national infrastructure (CNI) must put security first and use a mix of physical protection, OT and IT integration, and cyber defence based on known threats.  

What is Critical National Infrastructure Security? 

Critical national infrastructure security is the practice of protecting the physical and digital systems that enable basic societal functions and everyday functioning. These systems are essential to public safety, economic stability, and national security.

Critical national infrastructure systems include power plants, hospitals, water treatment facilities, transport systems, and communication networks. These sectors are attractive targets for cybercriminals, nation-state hackers, and threat actors due to the untold chaos and disruption a single breach can cause.

The importance of critical infrastructure to a nation’s functioning offers attackers to exploit it for massive financial and political gain. Attackers can weaponise digital access to cause physical harm.

Attackers who gain access to power substations can black out entire cities. Others may disable hospital equipment remotely. 

Why Is Critical Infrastructure Security Important?

Critical infrastructure security is essential because any compromise can impact millions. It can delay healthcare, stop utilities, and erode trust in government services.

Examples of past attacks on critical infrastructure include the Colonial Pipeline attack (2021) that caused panic buying and fuel shortages across the U.S.

Another infamous incident is the Change healthcare ransomware attack in 2024. The attack disrupted prescriptions being processed, prevented insurance access, and even led to delays of surgeries across the U.S.

These incidents are not limited to the West. The UAE faces up to 200,000 cyberattacks daily, many aimed at critical infrastructure. National critical infrastructure security threats often come from terrorist groups and state-backed actors seeking to disrupt essential services, steal sensitive data, and compromise national security.

As a result, NESA now mandates OT cybersecurity frameworks across multiple sectors, including energy, water, and transport. Saudi Arabia's NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC) have also become mandatory for all critical infrastructure providers.  

Key Sectors Considered as Critical Infrastructure

Critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, transportation, healthcare, communications, finance, and government services.

The most commonly recognised critical infrastructure sectors include:

• Energy (electric grids, oil pipelines, refineries)
• Water and Wastewater systems
• Transportation (airports, railways, ports)
• Healthcare (hospitals, medical devices, public health databases)
• Communications (ISPs, telecom infrastructure)
• Finance (banking networks, payment systems)
• Government Services (citizen identity systems, judiciary, police) 

Top Cyber Threats to Critical Infrastructure

The top cyber threats to critical infrastructure include ransomware attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities, insider threats, and nation-state operations. Each of these threats can compromise critical systems, disrupt essential services, and endanger public safety if not proactively addressed.

Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware is one of the most disruptive threats to infrastructure. Attackers use it to encrypt critical systems and demand payment, often in cryptocurrency, to restore access.

In 2024, over 30% of global ransomware attacks targeted energy, healthcare, and water sectors. In the GCC, ransomware incidents targeting oil, finance, and healthcare sectors have increased, prompting stronger regulations under NESA and SAMA.

In 2023, ICS/SCADA-related incidents surged across sectors, with ransomware campaigns affecting energy and health systems in over 50 countries.

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Critical infrastructure systems rely on a wide network of third-party vendors, software providers, and equipment manufacturers. Attackers often exploit weaknesses in this supply chain to gain entry.

The 2020 SolarWinds attack showed how a compromised software update could give attackers access to U.S. federal agencies and critical infrastructure operators.

In the GCC, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have mandated cybersecurity due diligence and continuous monitoring of third-party vendors.

Insider Threats

Employees or contractors with privileged access can intentionally or accidentally compromise critical systems. Insider threats are difficult to detect because attackers already have legitimate credentials.   

Nation-State Attacks

Nation-state actors pose a severe threat to infrastructure because of their resources, technical skills, and geopolitical motivations. These attacks often target power grids, communication systems, and defence infrastructure.

In 2022, the Russia-linked group Sandworm used malware to trip circuit breakers in Ukraine, causing regional blackouts.

Many of the malware strains that target embedded systems in critical infrastructure sectors have grown by 30% annually, according to a recent report. These threats bypass traditional IT defences. 

Frameworks and Standards for Critical Infrastructure Protection

Frameworks and standards for protecting critical infrastructure include the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, the EU’s NIS2 Directive, U.S. CISA guidelines, and GCC-specific controls such as Saudi Arabia’s NCA ECC. They are all designed to guide risk management, improve incident response, and ensure regulatory compliance across sectors.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

The NIST CSF is a globally recognised standard developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology. It outlines five key functions, namely Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover. These help providers build resilient critical infrastructure cybersecurity programs. 

EU NIS2 Directive

The NIS2 Directive, enforced across the European Union since 2023, mandates stronger risk management, real-time incident reporting, and third-party security controls for critical infrastructure sectors.

CISA Guidelines (USA)

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides sector-specific cybersecurity advisories, technical assessments, and incident response support.

NCA Essential Cybersecurity Controls (ECC)

Saudi Arabia’s NCA ECC is a mandatory set of cybersecurity standards for all critical infrastructure operators in the kingdom. It includes detailed requirements across governance, risk management, network security, incident response, and industrial control system (ICS) protection. Organisations that fail to comply face regulatory penalties. 

Best Practices for Securing Critical Infrastructure

Securing critical infrastructure requires a layered defence strategy that includes risk assessments, network segmentation, OT-IT convergence controls, incident response planning, and workforce training with strict access control.

Risk Assessment and Asset Inventory

Start by identifying all critical assets across IT and OT environments. Conduct regular risk assessments to evaluate threats to each asset, including those introduced through third-party connections or legacy components.

The UAE’s NESA mandates comprehensive asset inventories as part of national risk management protocols.

Network Segmentation

Divide networks to isolate sensitive systems from external-facing components. Segmenting OT from IT networks prevents lateral movement by attackers and limits the spread of ransomware.

Saudi Arabia’s NCA ECC framework requires all critical infrastructure providers to implement strong internal segmentation policies.

OT/IT Convergence Security

As more OT systems connect to enterprise IT networks, convergence risks increase. Use secure gateways, encryption, and protocol filtering to reduce exposure.

In 2023, the GCC saw multiple energy sector attacks that exploited poorly segmented IT-OT boundaries, prompting a renewed push for industrial DMZs and role-based access.

Incident Response Plans

Build tailored incident response (IR) plans that cover both IT and OT environments. Test them through regular tabletop exercises simulating real-world attacks.

The UAE’s DESC (Dubai Electronic Security Center) recommends industry-specific IR planning to support rapid detection, containment, and recovery.

Employee Training and Access Control

Train all employees, especially those with privileged access, to recognise phishing, social engineering, and insider threat indicators. Apply the principle of least privilege and enforce multifactor authentication.

In Saudi Arabia, all government-linked critical infrastructure operators must now track and review privileged access logs under ECC guidelines. 

Technologies Supporting CNI Security

Critical infrastructure security relies on advanced technologies such as ICS/SCADA protection platforms, real-time threat monitoring tools, Zero Trust architectures, and AI/ML-based anomaly detection systems.

SCADA/ICS Security Tools

Use industrial cybersecurity solutions designed for SCADA and ICS environments. These tools understand protocols like Modbus, DNP3, and IEC 60870-5-104.

Threat Detection and Monitoring

Implement threat detection platforms that can identify both IT and OT threats in real time.

Zero Trust Architectures

Zero Trust models ensure that no user or device receives automatic trust. Use identity verification, continuous authentication, and micro-segmentation to secure each access request.

AI and Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection

AI and ML models help detect subtle behavioural anomalies in ICS environments without relying solely on known signatures.

The Role of Government and Private Sector

Governments create regulations, while the private sector provides innovation and frontline protection. By working together, both sectors can ensure faster response times, better intelligence sharing, and coordinated cyber defense.

Public-private partnerships are especially important in the GCC, where over 85% of critical systems are privately operated.

Saudi Arabia’s NCA conducts joint cyber drills with private operators, while the UAE launched the Cyber Pulse initiative to promote sector-wide awareness and reporting.

Regulatory bodies like the GCC-CERT (Cooperation Council CERT) and Oman’s National Center for Information Safety help coordinate cyber defence across borders.

Meanwhile, companies like ADNOC (UAE) and SABIC (KSA) lead the way by investing in cyber threat intelligence platforms, penetration testing, and secure architecture reviews.

This combined approach ensures compliance and proactive defense, especially as threat actors continue targeting vital national services.

Managed service providers, red teaming firms, and cybersecurity partners help organisations meet compliance and resilience goals. 

Future of Critical Infrastructure Security

The future of critical infrastructure security depends on addressing evolving threats through smart infrastructure controls, secure IoT integration, and AI-enabled cyber defense strategies.

Smart Infrastructure Challenges

Modern infrastructure uses connected sensors, controllers, and cloud-based management. Without proper segmentation and encryption, these systems can be exploited.

IoT Security Integration

Critical sectors now depend on IoT devices, like smart meters, pressure sensors, and surveillance systems, that often lack built-in security.

Kaspersky reports that nearly 20% of global industrial cyber incidents in 2023 began through vulnerable IoT endpoints.

In Saudi Arabia, the SAMA cybersecurity framework mandates IoT risk assessments for all financial operators.

AI-Enabled Threats and Defense

Attackers are starting to use AI to automate reconnaissance, make polymorphic malware, and take advantage of AI/ML supply chains. To counter this, defenders are applying AI to threat modeling, behavior analysis, and response automation.

Microminder Cyber Security offers AI-focused penetration testing that simulates adversarial machine learning attacks against critical systems.