Governments installing digital safeguards that shield infrastructure from cyber criminals

Cities and counties will incorporate multiple public improvements in their infrastructure projects, says Avi Schwartz, a principal at Deloitte who leads the firm’s Government and Public Services (GPS) Infrastructure and Capital Projects activities. Deloitte is a global management consultancy that provides technology, strategy and operations and human capital consulting for many industries, including the public sector.

Schwartz’s firm operates The Deloitte Center for Government Insights, which produces original research to help governments solve complex problems.

“In light of infrastructure disruptions brought on by the pandemic, we’re experiencing higher demand for improved broadband access.” Schwartz tells Co-op Solutions. “The shift to remote/hybrid work, telehealth and other daily online activities has increased the need for enhanced broadband services across the country.”

The pandemic, adds Schwartz, also exposed glaring weaknesses in the nation’s path to delivering finished products to the marketplace; some would call it the interconnected routes that raw materials, components, parts and goods take before their assembly and sale to customers. “At the same time, ongoing supply chain pressures have spurred additional demand for multimodal transportation solutions in the U.S.”

Schwartz says upgrades and improvements in these and other U.S. infrastructure areas are ongoing. He adds that the pace of improvements may accelerate “as resources from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) reach more communities across the country.”

A recent Deloitte Insights report, “The Future of U.S. Infrastructure; A Survey of Infrastructure Trends,” spotlights the many infrastructure projects that will get a shot in the arm from the federal legislation. IIJA offers monies for roads and bridges, passenger and freight rail, broadband internet, power infrastructure, water infrastructure, wastewater systems and water storage, public transit, airports, ports and waterways, infrastructure resiliency, environmental remediation, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure and safety and research.

Deloitte Insights used an outside organization to conduct a double-blind survey of 300 public officials and infrastructure executives in the U.S. Those surveyed were senior officials in infrastructure representing governments, private companies, nonprofits and academics.

Interestingly, the Deloitte survey respondents see talent shortages as a bigger obstacle to executing infrastructure projects rather than budget constraints or regulatory barriers. About 43 percent of respondents said shortage of talent is the biggest obstacle for infrastructure project managers. Roughly 40 percent said budgetary constraints, while 35 percent said cross-departmental coordination is a challenge to completing infrastructure projects.

Schwartz predicts more monies will be spent to improve digital security within infrastructure projects. He points to a recent Deloitte study that shows one in four state and local government officials believe that their infrastructure systems are not adequately protected from cyber-attacks. “Considering that most hard infrastructure systems incorporate digital components, two-thirds of respondents to the Deloitte survey expect an even greater focus on data security in the coming years. That said, we’ll continue to see state and local governments allocate resources to deter and mitigate potential cyber threats against infrastructure assets.”

Respondents to the Deloitte Insights survey predict governments will invest in the following digital infrastructure categories: artificial intelligence/machine learning (55 percent), cloud computing (53 percent) and cybersecurity technologies (49 percent).

“While cybersecurity remains generally focused on digital infrastructure, state and local officials will eye additional safeguards for ‘hard’ infrastructure, such as pipelines, highways and harbors,” Schwartz adds.

There is one procurement vehicle that can play a pivotal role in rebuilding the U.S., Schwartz says. “Cooperative contracts between local governments and businesses can help accelerate efforts to meet infrastructure improvement goals by decreasing costs, saving time and streamlining procurement processes. State and local governments in particular can benefit from these contracts, as they can gain and share resources with larger entities.”

The Deloitte executive points to one additional benefit of these kinds of agreements: “Cooperative contracts also expand the pool of solution providers, making problem-solving more achievable.”

Government entities are developing ways to enhance the creation of new infrastructure, Schwartz believes: “The coordinated support of state and local governments and commercial partners will help transform infrastructure to meet growing and changing needs. With strategic partnerships and the right procurement strategy, state and local governments can address infrastructure demands across the country.”

OMNIA Partners offers a robust portfolio of cooperative contracts in the public procurement space. The firm lists about 20 cooperative contracts under the keyword “infrastructure.”

Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at [email protected].