Department of Transportation Seeks Feedback on Proposal to Use Cybersecurity Tool

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT) is inviting public feedback on its plan to authorize transportation authorities to utilize the Cyber Security Evaluation Tool (CSET) developed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), enhancing their ability to manage cyber incidents effectively.

The FHWA is mandated by law to create a tool to aid transportation authorities in recognizing, detecting, safeguarding against, responding to, and rebounding from cyber incidents.

However, instead of developing its own, the FHWA is suggesting the adoption of CISA's CSET as an optional tool for transportation authorities to utilize in identifying, detecting, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from cyber incidents.

“The CSET, developed by CISA, is a comprehensive software tool designed to assist organizations in assessing their cybersecurity posture and developing structured improvement programs. The CSET helps organizations evaluate their cybersecurity practices, identify vulnerabilities, and prioritize mitigation efforts by providing a systematic approach to assess cybersecurity controls and processes,” a notice issued by the Federal Highway Administration said.

Moreover, the notice also revealed that FHWA has coordinated with CISA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and consulted with appropriate stakeholders on the viability and usefulness of the tool. 

Last month, the DOT announced a new initiative termed “Complete Streets AI Initiative” to help small businesses in the country harness the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing transportation.

Facilitated by the department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, the initiative’s objective is to create robust decision-support tools for state, local, and tribal transportation agencies.