The White House has announced an expansion of the Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cybersecurity Initiative to a fourth sector–the chemical sector. Chemical companies and the government’s lead agency for the chemical sector–the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA)–have agreed on a plan–the Chemical Action Plan–to promote a higher standard of cybersecurity across the sector, including capabilities that enable visibility and threat detection for industrial control systems. The Chemical Action Plan will serve as a roadmap to guide the sector’s assessment of their current cybersecurity practices over the next 100 days, building on the lessons learned and best practices of the previously launched action plans for the electric, pipeline, and water sectors to meet the needs for this sector. 

The Chemical Action Plan will focus on high-risk chemical facilities that present significant chemical release hazards, with the ultimate goal of supporting enhanced ICS cybersecurity across the entire chemical sector; drive information sharing and analytical coordination between the Federal Government and the chemical sector; and foster collaboration with the sector owners and operators to facilitate and encourage the deployment of appropriate technologies based on each chemical facility’s own risk assessment and cybersecurity posture. The Federal Government will not select, endorse, or recommend any specific technology or provider.