Identifying cyber vulnerabilities in the hazmat sector

For decades, the “hazmat industry”—a broad umbrella covering hazardous waste management, chemical manufacturing and industrial wastewater treatment—was defined by physical barriers. We worried about corroded valves, leaking drums, and the integrity of secondary containment. But in modern times, worries now include cyberattacks.

Recent findings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) paint a sobering picture: our critical infrastructure is currently a primary theater for both opportunistic cybercriminals and sophisticated nation-state actors.

In a major progress report released in February 2026, the the U.S. EPA revealed that its Office of Water identified and helped eliminate over 350 cybersecurity vulnerabilities across 277 water and wastewater systems in the previous year alone.

Read more at HAZMAT Management Magazine