Pozniak: A cyber attack could cripple the U.S.
In recent weeks, a significant outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) sent shockwaves across Massachusetts and the nation, causing widespread frustration as users found themselves unable to access essential services. From banking and online shopping to educational platforms and social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, the disruption highlighted a growing vulnerability in our digital landscape. This incident serves as a stark reminder of how reliant we have become on technology and the internet for everyday functions. However, it also raises critical concerns about the potential consequences of a more severe cyber attack from adversaries, which could cripple the nation’s critical infrastructure, including power grids, water supplies, and healthcare systems.
At the Cipher Brief 2025 Threat Conference held in Sea Island, Georgia, elite national security leaders underscored the escalating sophistication of cyber threats, particularly from countries like China. Retired General Paul Nakasone, former Director of the National Security Agency, emphasized the alarming speed and scope of Chinese cyber operations, warning attendees of the significant risks posed to U.S. communications and infrastructure. In light of these threats, experts expressed outrage over recent budget cuts to the U.S. Cyber Command and the dismissal of its director, General Timothy Haugh, during a time when robust cyber defense is more crucial than ever. Critics argue that while the U.S. government is scaling back its cyber security efforts, adversaries are advancing their capabilities, potentially leaving the nation vulnerable to catastrophic attacks that could disrupt essential services and create widespread panic.
In response to these escalating threats, UMass Lowell has taken proactive measures by launching a new cyber security operations center aimed at bolstering defenses against cyber threats. This center will assist local government agencies, defense contractors, nonprofits, and businesses in evaluating their cyber systems, identifying vulnerabilities, and developing strategies to intercept potential attacks. While initiatives like this are vital, experts contend that it is imperative for the federal government to prioritize cyber security funding and staffing. As Rick Pozniak, a Billerica resident and crisis communications professional, notes, the stakes are too high to undermine the capabilities of agencies tasked with safeguarding national security. The time has come for a renewed commitment to cyber defense, ensuring that the U.S. is not only prepared to respond to minor disruptions but also capable of withstanding significant threats to its critical infrastructure.
The recent Amazon web service outage left people in Massachusetts and around the country angry, frustrated and stressed as they were unable to access some banks, online retailers, pharmacies, and even college course content and assignments. Even TikTok and Instagram were impacted by this disruption, all of which highlights our vulnerability to a cyber disruption.
But imagine if this minor inconvenience were a massive cyber attack on our country by one of our adversaries? In a worst-case yet pragmatic scenario, this level of attack could cripple the nation’s critical infrastructure such as power grids, water supplies and transportation networks. Financial sectors including banks, stock exchanges and digital payment systems would be incapacitated, resulting in widespread economic panic. Hospitals and health care systems that rely on electronic medical records and medical equipment could be paralyzed. Transportation grids like airports and railways could be disabled. Radio, TV, telephone, 911 and internet services would collapse. Taken together, America would be brought to its knees.
Elite national security and intelligence leaders speaking at the recent Cipher Brief 2025 Threat Conference in Sea Island, Georgia all agree that cyber attacks by our adversaries have dramatically increased in sophistication and reach into our communications systems and infrastructure. The former Director of the National Security Agency, retired four-star Air Force General Paul Nakasone, warned conference attendees that China is a major threat in cyberspace and that there is no actor that has the scope and speed of Chinese cyber attackers.
In view of this serious threat, cyber security and intelligence experts are angry that the Trump administration has cut the budget and size of the country’s leading cyber security agency by a third along with firing the distinguished director of the U.S. Cyber Command, General Timothy Haugh. At a time when the United States is weakening its cyber defense, our adversaries are becoming a more powerful cyber threat.
While the White House has dropped the ball on making cyber security a top priority, UMass Lowell just opened a new cyber security operations center that will provide area government agencies, defense contractors, nonprofits and businesses with expert guidance on how to prevent cyber threats. Services to be provided include evaluating cyber systems, flagging potential risks, analyzing email defense systems and detecting and intercepting a cyber attack.
While UMass Lowell is doing its part to prevent this type of crisis, the Trump administration must do more to protect America against crippling foreign attacks. They must ensure that government cyber security agencies are fully funded and staffed with the top security and intelligence experts committed to safeguarding national security and our critical infrastructure. Now is not the time to nickel and dime these critical agencies.
Billerica resident Rick Pozniak has spent decades as a public and risk communications professional and was part of a crisis response team that assisted a large health care provider during a cyber-attack on its infrastructure
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering General news.
