01 / PRESENTATION
The conference slides
Session materials on preparing for cyber incidents, equipment failures, and the loss of the technology you rely on.
Slides will be added here when finalizedLRWA MINI CONFERENCE · OCTOBER 2026
Keep the water flowing.
Be ready for what fails.
Resilient Water & Wastewater Systems: Preparing for Cyber and Technology Failures
Practical steps for the people who keep our systems running—from a failed controller to a lost connection or a cyber incident.
TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR UTILITY
Your resource desk.
A starting point for conversations with your operators, management, IT support, and controls integrator.
02 / WORKING CHECKLIST
Start with six questions
Use a short, printable readiness checklist to find gaps and choose one practical next step.
Download the checklist (PDF) ↓03 / TRUSTED REFERENCES
Guidance you can use
Selected resources from EPA and CISA for water and wastewater utilities.
Browse the references →RESILIENCE STARTS WITH THE BASICS
Know what you have.
Know how to recover.
You don’t have to solve everything at once. Pick a gap, assign someone to it, and set a date to follow up.
Download the checklist (PDF) ↓Understand your system
Keep an up-to-date list of controllers, operator interfaces, computers, network equipment, and remote connections. Record who supports each one.
Control who can connect
Review remote access with your IT support and controls integrator. Remove access that is no longer needed, avoid internet-exposed control devices, and use multifactor authentication where supported.
Make recovery possible
Keep current PLC, HMI, and SCADA backups in a protected location. Confirm that you have the software, licenses, credentials, and people needed to restore them.
Practice the fallback
Document approved operating procedures for a loss of automation or communications. Walk through them with operators and support staff before an outage occurs.
GO A LITTLE DEEPER
Useful references.
Official guidance to support your next conversation. These links open the source organizations’ websites.
EPACISACISA / EPA / FBI
Cybersecurity for the Water Sector
Water-sector cybersecurity guidance and assistance resources.
Water & Wastewater Cybersecurity Toolkit
A starting point for sector-specific cybersecurity resources.
Top Cyber Actions for Securing Water Systems
A concise reference for prioritizing cybersecurity improvements. PDF.
LET’S LISTEN, TOO
Where’s the disconnect?
Warnings and recommendations only help when they fit the realities of running a utility. What gets in the way—and how can integrators like us do a better job helping?
Anonymous survey coming soon.
The survey link will be added here before this page is shared with attendees.
WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND
- What is the biggest challenge to improving your system’s resilience?
- What makes it difficult to act on cybersecurity or technology recommendations?
- What could an integrator do to make the next step easier?
No utility name or personal contact information will be requested in the planned survey.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Talk with Micky.
Have a question about your controls, SCADA, or recovery plans? Let’s talk about what would help your system.
Looking for help with another project? Explore our other automation and controls services.
Visit MF Automation & Controls ↗Micky Franks
Owner | Automation & Controls Engineer
MF Automation & Controls, LLC
DeRidder, Louisiana