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Agency official urges investment in cybersecurity as emergency communications move to IP networks
Summary
An agency official warned that shifting 9-1-1, radio and alert systems to cloud and IP networks increases cyber risk and urged funding, training and defensive planning to prevent outages that could hamper emergency response.
An agency official warned that as emergency communications migrate to cloud-based and IP networks, critical systems including 9-1-1, radio and emergency alert systems are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks and need more investment in defenses and training.
"It is vitally important that those networks stay up," the agency official said, arguing that breaches can disrupt both communications and the underlying data that responders depend on. The speaker said attacks are already happening "at an emergency responder level" and that the technological shift has expanded attack surfaces.
The official contrasted the modern environment with earlier practice: "25 years ago, security around any one of those emergency communication ecosystem pieces was around physical security. Are the doors locked? Who has access? It was considerably simpler than it is today." They said today’s security must go beyond physical controls and include strong technology protections.
Describing a rapid convergence of systems, the official noted that 9-1-1 operations are moving into digital environments and emergency alert systems are now transmitted over the internet, creating new vectors for attack. The official also cited the shift of radio systems to IP networks as an example of how legacy functions now depend on internet-facing infrastructure.
The speaker warned of practical consequences if networks are compromised: responders could face downtime on radio and NG911 systems, and the data collected through those communications could be affected. "I can't afford to have any downtime on my radio system," the official said, adding that similar risk applies to NG911 and alarm systems.
To reduce that risk, the official urged that jurisdictions allocate money for cybersecurity, provide training and build defensive measures and contingency plans so that multiple systems do not fail during an incident. The official framed the call as a practical protection for first responders and the communities they serve.
There were no formal actions or votes recorded in the transcript. The speaker's comments concluded with a call to raise awareness and invest in protections for emergency communications.
