Safeguarding water critical infrastructure with resilient design
For the protection you need, our industry leaders are creating change in the sector to maintain safe, clean water for our communities
The West Yost Operations Technology, Cybersecurity and Resilience (OTCR) team are experts in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system design and implementation; networking; cybersecurity assessments; electrical engineering; instrumentation, controls, and electrical systems (IC&E); data management; and programming.
We create change throughout the sector. Our team of experts 1) assess current infrastructure, 2) fix the issues, 3) improve the design, and 4) provide industry-wide leadership for better systems.
Services provided by our Operations Technology, Cybersecurity, and Resilience group include:
- Cybersecurity vulnerability assessments
- Operations Technology Programming and Configuration
- Cybersecurity resiliency planning
- SCADA master planning
- Climate Energy Reliability practice (CER)
- Operations Technology detailed design and implementation
- Risk and Resilience Assessments
- Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls design (EI&C)
- Seismic Informed Engineering (SIE)
Additional information on our team’s project experience or qualifications is available upon request.
Our Key Initiatives
Consequence Driven Cyber-Informed Engineering (CCE) for the Water Sector
Partnered with Idaho National Laboratory
CCE is a methodology developed by Idaho National Laboratory (INL). To-date it has been applied to protect facilities within the Nuclear and Energy sectors from cyber attacks. West Yost is working with INL to adapt this methodology to the water sector. This methodology assumes that if a SCADA system is targeted by a persistent and capable threat actor, it will be compromised. Based on this assumption our team designs SCADA systems in such a way that a utility will still be able to confidently carry out its mission of delivering drinking water to customers, even if the SCADA system is compromised.
Climate-Energy-Reliability (CER)
Process-based energy solutions for reliability, resilience, and economy
West Yost’s Climate-Energy-Reliability (CER) service develops and delivers process-based energy solutions for our water sector clients. Our team is highly experienced in deploying solutions that combine emerging technologies with science-based engineering principles to reduce energy demands, improve mechanical system performance, and enhance the resilience of your water system.
Our core goal is to reduce our clients’ dependency on non-renewable resources through a transition to reliable and renewable resources.
To achieve exceptional results for our clients, we focus on the key mission-critical functions of reliability, resilience, and economy–through the energy lens.
Programming and Configuration Services
Implementing CCE and SIE in the design process
Programming and Configuration Services are essential to help utilities consistently deliver safe drinking water to the public and treat wastewater to be safely returned to the environment. Nearly all modern control systems depend on Programming and Configuration, network security design and implementation. The implementation of these systems affects electrical, mechanical, process and nearly all other branches of engineering and design.
Industry Leadership – American Water Works Association (AWWA) Support
Sector Best Practice Training and Guidance Development
West Yost supports the AWWA’s efforts in risk and RRAs, cybersecurity, and ERPs. Over the last few years, West Yost has conducted cybersecurity training for utility staff, developed two of the five-module Utility Risk and Resilience Certification Program, led updates to the AWWA Cybersecurity Risk Management Guidance Tool, and is delivering outreach to small and rural systems.
Seismic Informed Engineering (SIE)
Preparing control systems to support seismic resilience
Seismic Informed Engineering (SIE) is a holistic approach to planning, design and implementation of water systems with resilience to seismic events. SIE includes accepted seismic design considerations (i.e., structural analysis/design, seismic valves), and expands upon this approach by including the mechanical, electrical, communications and control systems as elements of resilience. SIE focuses on how a water system should react prior to, during, and after a seismic event.
Utility Resilience
Beyond AWIA compliance
West Yost has assisted more than 20 clients with their all-hazards America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (AWIA) compliant Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs) and Emergency Response Plans (ERPs). Each project was a collaborative effort between West Yost’s RRA and ERP experts and the utility staff, who are experts in their system.
Team Spotlight
West Yost has assembled an OTCR team of experts from across the country who are dedicated to providing safe, resilient water infrastructure for all of our communities. They enjoy the challenge of their specialties and feel pride in working together to solve very complicated challenges. They are doing the best work of their lives at West Yost. Additional members are highlighted in project experience.
Daniel Groves, PE, CISSP
OTCR Business Sector Leader
Daniel Groves, PE, CISSP
OTCR Business Sector Leader
Operations Technology, Cybersecurity, and Resilience Business Sector Leader
“I enjoy working with a team of diverse, highly skilled Operations Technology, Cybersecurity, and Resilience professionals serving clients that provide essential water services to the community. Our team provides a mostly unseen essential service that is crucial to the operation of critical infrastructure in the water industry.
I am proud that we are practicing what we preach around cyber security and resilience! I had the opportunity to hand pick the professionals I work with every day – it was a highlight of my career to “get the band back together” selecting the best experts I’ve worked with in the past. Together, we have stood up an electrical, instrumentation, and controls group within West Yost that embodies and delivers on resilience. We deliver CCE, CIE, and all of the methodologies which will change the water sector for the better to improve resilience of critical water infrastructure. I am honored to be able to provide that to all of our clients.”
Jeff Hesse, PE
OTCR Control Systems Engineer
Jeff Hesse, PE
OTCR Control Systems Engineer
Jeff Hesse is an OTCR Controls System Engineer (OTCR Senior Technical Specialist II):
“I started my career performing startups for new water facilities and being more focused on process engineering and operational consulting. I really liked the idea of advancing operational technology for water and wastewater treatment. Taking something that is changing all the time, like technology, and applying it to the water industry provides a continuously evolving and exciting challenge.
We are helping introduce and solidify cybersecurity in the water industry. We have clients we have worked with for ten years, and it is rewarding to review what we have accomplished together over time. It is inspiring to see them implementing best practices and see how far they have come since we began, including their progress in taking an independent role in maintaining their systems.”
Greg Smith, PE
Programming and Configuration Lead, Senior Technical Specialist I
Greg Smith, PE
Programming and Configuration Lead, Senior Technical Specialist I
“I am an instrumentation and controls automation engineer responsible for providing instrumentation and control engineering services. I have experience in PLC and HMI programming, SQL database management, SQL Server Reporting, and control systems design. I have enjoyed finding solutions to the challenges of wastewater facilities, water production facilities, water reclamation facilities, and various industrial and commercial construction projects.”
Available Positions
Operations Technology, Cybersecurity, and Resilience (OTCR) Intern
Cyber risk is a top threat to the water and wastewater sector, making Operations Technology and Cybersecurity a top priority. West Yost provides operations technology, cybersecurity services, and resilience to clients in the water and wastewater sector across the United States to help them safeguard their systems and protect public health and safety.
