1
CHALLENGE 1 · PLANNING, DATA & FIELD OPERATIONS
Environmental Tech Labs Externship Final Presentation
My Top Sourced Company Recommendations
THE PROBLEM
WHY IT MATTERS
✓
Even well-designed water infrastructure remains vulnerable to cyber threats. Growing AI use also creates new risks, making it essential to protect OT/SCADA systems and ensure AI is used safely.
✓
These systems support water and wastewater operations; security failures can disrupt service and create operational risk.
MY LANE
Cybersecurity for Operational Technology (OT) & SCADA Networks + AI governance
Sourced globally, US-first
Ranked by: relevance → evidence strength → eligibility cleanliness → US tiebreaker.
Source: ETL Challenge 1 brief
Top Companies Briefing
2
#1 PICK
Elisity
Best overall evidence match for DEP’s OT/SCADA cyber security need.
HIGH RELEVANCE
#1
Identity-based micro segmentation for IT, OT and IoT environments.
Elisity discovers and classifies industrial devices such as PLCs and RTUs, then applies least-privilege segmentation to reduce unauthorized access and lateral movement.
DEP NEED: Cybersecurity for OT & SCADA networks
STRONGEST EVIDENCE
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)
Official utility procurement records approved an Elisity software license/support contract to deploy and maintain micro segmentation across HRSD’s network — explicitly including OT and IoT systems integral to wastewater-treatment operations.
Commercial utility contract
WHY #1
It combines a direct OT/SCADA fit with the strongest proof in the pipeline: a named U.S. wastewater utility and customer-side evidence of an ongoing commercial deployment.
Sources:
Top Companies Briefing
3
TOP 3
Strong alternatives — but each has a weaker evidence profile than #1
Both remain High relevance and map directly to a named DEP cybersecurity need.
#2
BlastWave
HIGH
Zero Trust OT cybersecurity using network cloaking, passwordless access and microsegmentation.
DEP need: Cybersecurity for OT & SCADA networks
Evidence
BlastShield is a functioning commercial product deployed by A2i Systems. Separately, the U.S. Air Force installed BlastWave hardware/software at Spangdahlem Air Base’s water-treatment facility.
Why below #1: water-specific proof is an operational military pilot, not a commercial water/wastewater utility contract.
#3
Harmonic Security
HIGH
AI governance and security that shows how employees use AI and applies real-time controls to reduce risky data exposure.
DEP need: AI usage monitoring, adoption insights & risk mitigation
Evidence
Advisor360° deployed Harmonic Protect in 2024 and continues using it to identify shadow AI, enforce policy and gain immediate visibility into employee AI-tool use.
Why below #1: Customer base: primarily large enterprises in financial services, investment, and technology; no water-utility customer publicly verified.
Sources:
BlastWave · A2i deployment • U.S. Air Force · water-treatment pilot • Dark Reading · Advisor360 deployment • Harmonic Command
Top Companies Briefing