NIANTIC, Conn. –
On April 11, 2025, East Lyme Emergency Management, in partnership with Research & Development Solutions Inc. (RDSI), gathered at Camp Nett for their annual cybersecurity training. The event aimed to enhance the region's preparedness for increasing cybersecurity threats targeting operational technology (OT).
This was an invaluable opportunity for professionals from the DEHMS Region 4 emergency operations and cybersecurity sectors to come together and refine their response protocols. With cybersecurity becoming an increasingly critical component of emergency operations, the tabletop exercise offered participants a unique chance to simulate a cyber incident affecting a mock town's infrastructure.
The scenario presented to participants involved a sophisticated cyber-attack on operational technology within the town’s critical infrastructure. This included systems essential to maintaining public safety, utilities, and emergency services. The exercise was designed to provide participants with a realistic understanding of how cybercrimes of this nature unfold and, more importantly, how to respond effectively.
The training objective was clear: to develop and solidify a procedural framework that ensures all stakeholders, from cybersecurity experts to local emergency management teams, know exactly what steps to take when facing a cyber threat. This included identifying key contacts, determining necessary actions, and understanding how to mitigate the impact of such incidents on the community.
This year's training marked RDSI’s third consecutive year of hosting this critical event. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone of cybersecurity readiness for Region 4, continuously refining and adapting to the evolving threat landscape.
The tabletop exercise helped reinforce the importance of collaboration between cybersecurity professionals, emergency management personnel, and local authorities in the face of emerging technological threats. It also served as a reminder that the line between cyber threats and physical infrastructure vulnerabilities is becoming increasingly blurred in today's interconnected world.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to grow in complexity, training events like these are essential in ensuring that emergency response teams remain ready and capable of responding to cyber incidents swiftly and effectively. Region 4's commitment to this type of training underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity within public safety and emergency management.