If you operate a wastewater facility in New York, cybersecurity is no longer just a recommended best practice. It is now part of the regulatory landscape.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, has formally adopted new cybersecurity regulations that apply to SPDES-permitted facilities, operators, and legally responsible parties. While this may sound like another compliance update to skim and file away, it signals something more important. New York is treating cyber risk as an operational, environmental, and public safety issue.

We offer a high-level overview here, but for more details, visit the Environmental Facilities Corporation Cybersecurity Hub or Reach Out to OrbitalFire for help understanding how to prepare to comply with regulations.

Cybersecurity Is Now Tied to Environmental and Public Risk

The DEC introduced these regulations because cyber incidents can directly affect water systems, public health, and community safety.

A ransomware attack on a wastewater facility is not simply an IT disruption. It can interfere with operations, delay treatment, and create real environmental consequences. That is why the new rules span multiple areas, including information protection under Part 616, operator training under Part 650, and technical and operational safeguards under Part 750.

Cybersecurity is now being pulled into the broader conversation around operations, compliance, and leadership. 

The Immediate Change: You Now Have 24 Hours to Report an Incident

As of March 26, 2026, all SPDES permit holders must report cybersecurity incidents orally within 24 hours and submit a written report within 30 days.

What’s Coming Next: Operational Requirements

By March 2027, facilities, especially POTWs, will need to implement and certify a defined set of cybersecurity practices. Below is a high-level look at some of the most important requirements. For additional detail, review the Environmental Facilities Corporation Cybersecurity Hub.

1. Incident Response Planning

Facilities will need a formal Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan that is integrated into the broader Emergency Response Plan. In other words, cyber response can no longer live off to the side as its own separate concern.

2. Access Control and Authentication

The new regulations require facilities to eliminate default credentials, enforce password standards, and require multi-factor authentication for remote access to operational systems. These are foundational controls, but they are also some of the most commonly overlooked.

3. Vulnerability Management

Organizations will need a defined process for identifying weaknesses, prioritizing them, and addressing them in a timely way. A cybersecurity assessment is often the best place to start because it helps identify where your biggest risks and remediation needs actually are.

4. Network Separation Between IT and OT

Facilities must either fully separate operational technology from IT systems and the internet or secure those connections with appropriate controls. For many organizations, this will be one of the more significant operational changes.

5. Monitoring and Logging for Larger Systems

Facilities with higher flow volumes must implement network monitoring unless they meet strict isolation criteria. The point is straightforward: organizations need better visibility into what is happening in their environments before a problem turns into a crisis.

6. Training Is Now Part of Certification

Cybersecurity is also being added to operator training requirements. There are no additional hours required, but approved cybersecurity topics must now be included for certification renewal starting in 2027. That is another clear sign that cybersecurity is no longer being treated as someone else’s job.

Funding Is Available to Support Compliance

New York is not only mandating change, it is also providing funding to support it.

The SECURE grant program includes up to $50,000 for assessments and up to $100,000 for cybersecurity upgrades. For more information about the grant program, visit the Environmental Facilities Corporation Cybersecurity Hub.

Where to Start

If your organization is affected by these regulations, focus first on three practical steps.

1. Clarify ownership

Determine who is responsible for cybersecurity decisions, incident reporting, and compliance obligations.

2. Validate your current state

Assess whether you actually have the controls, plans, and visibility these regulations require.

3. Build a plan you can execute

Do not stop at documentation. Build a working program that aligns people, process, and technology in a way your organization can actually sustain. OrbitalFire Can Help With That.

Final Thought

These regulations are not trying to turn wastewater operators into cybersecurity experts.

They are making it clear that cybersecurity must be treated with the same seriousness as safety, compliance, and operations. The organizations that act accordingly will be in a much better position to meet the requirements, reduce risk, and handle what comes next without unnecessary chaos.

We’re Here to Help

These new DEC regulations can be confusing, especially for organizations trying to balance operational demands, compliance obligations, and limited internal resources.

If you are an OrbitalFire customer and would like help understanding your requirements or aligning your cybersecurity program with the new regulations, please contact your Customer Success Specialist or reach out to su*****@*********re.com.

If you are part of a smaller municipality and not yet a customer, contact us at sa***@*********re.com or Connect with Us Here.