Alabama Water Utilities Completed Cybersecurity Training

Over 100 professionals gathered to strengthen defenses against potential infrastructure threats.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Cybersecurity

Isometric editorial illustration of a heavy-duty pipe flange and valve, representing critical infrastructure protection. — More than 100 water and wastewater professionals from 40 Alabama utilities participated in a two-day cybersecurity training program to strengthen local infrastructure defenses. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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More than 100 water and wastewater professionals from 40 Alabama utilities met for a two-day cybersecurity training event. The program focused on enhancing cyber resiliency, incident response, and recovery planning for critical infrastructure.

Why it matters

The training provides utility operators with essential strategies to prepare for and mitigate the impact of digital threats. It ensures that local water systems across the state are better equipped to maintain service stability during potential cyber incidents.

The training program involved over 100 participants representing 40 distinct utility providers. These attendees came from 26 different Alabama counties to practice incident response in a simulated threat environment.

The players

Central Alabama Water

This entity serves as a primary water provider and helped organize the regional cybersecurity training event.

McCrary Institute

This research institution contributed expertise to the cybersecurity training program for local water utilities.

Alabama Rural Water Association

This organization represents the interests of rural water utilities and collaborated on state-level infrastructure security planning.

State Office of Information Technology

This state agency provided technical oversight and cybersecurity guidance during the training sessions.

The details

Hosted at the Historic Cahaba Pump Station, the two-day event facilitated a collaborative effort between Central Alabama Water, the McCrary Institute, the Alabama Rural Water Association, and the State Office of Information Technology. Participants engaged with real-world scenarios to refine their understanding of the current cyber threat landscape.

The two-day cybersecurity training began on September 29, 2026.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month takes place throughout October 2026.

The Tech Race

This training follows a pattern set by the 2021 Oldsmar water plant cyberattack by prioritizing preventative security measures for critical infrastructure. It highlights the shift toward proactive cyber defense for utilities as they replace legacy systems with modern digital networks.

The training helps ensure that residents served by these 40 utilities face fewer disruptions to their water supply from malicious network interference. Residents benefit from the increased security and faster recovery times that these modernized response protocols provide.

The takeaway

Proactive training sessions are critical for local utility providers to identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited. Operators can maintain a high level of preparedness by regularly reviewing incident response plans and participating in regional collaboration efforts.