CRRC team members work alongside local operators at the Red Sulphur water treatment facility to assess utility systems and map out improvements.
Recently, the Cyber-Resilience Resource Center visited Red Sulphur Public Service District, a wastewater facility supplying water to approximately 5,352 residents in the Peterstown area of Monroe County. Facilities like Red Sulphur are foundational to their communities. They ensure clean water flows, waste is processed safely, and daily life continues uninterrupted.
They also face growing cybersecurity risks.
CRRC fellows gain hands‑on experience at Red Sulphur facilities, assessing their technology and offering actionable recommendations.
During the visit, CRRC experts joined fellows and interns on site to assess the facility’s operational and information technology systems. The team reviewed network connections, remote access points, printers, phone systems, and other connected devices that, if left unsecured, could create vulnerabilities.
The team toured both the wastewater and water treatment facilities, working alongside staff to understand how systems function in real time.
Student fellows said the experience made the stakes clear.
"The Red Sulphur visit showed me how critical cybersecurity is for protecting essential services in West Virginia." said Brian Semenie, an undergraduate student studying cyber forensics and security. "The biggest takeaway was that strong cybersecurity depends not just on technology, but on trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to resilience."
The CRRC team at the Red Sulphur water treatment facility.
Water and wastewater systems are designated critical infrastructure sectors because disruptions can have immediate and widespread consequences. A cyber incident at even a single facility can interrupt essential services for an entire community.
Through engagements like this, the CRRC provides little to no cost cybersecurity support to organizations that may not have dedicated IT teams. The goal is simple: make protection accessible to West Virginia organizations regardless of size or location.
At the same time, this work responds to a broader workforce challenge. Nationally, more than 500,000 cyber jobs remain unfilled. West Virginia faces that same gap. The CRRC is addressing it in real time.
For CRRC fellow and cybersecurity graduate student, Tyler Fultz, the visit also shifted his perspective.
"The thing that stood out to me the most during the Red Sulphur visit was the sheer amount of technology being used, even on a small scale," said Fultz. "The visit gave me a valuable view into the potential landscape of operational technology in the public-service water delivery sector of West Virginia."
All CRRC fellows and interns are West Virginia students. Through hands-on assessments alongside experienced cyber professionals, they gain direct experience supporting operational environments and working with community partners. They graduate not only with degrees, but with applied experience that allows them to step confidently into high-demand roles.
This dual impact defines the CRRC’s approach: strengthen the state’s security posture today while preparing the professionals who will safeguard it in the future.
For Red Sulphur and communities like it, that means greater confidence in the systems
residents rely on every day. For West Virginia, it represents a practical, partnership-driven
model for protecting critical infrastructure while building the state’s cybersecurity
workforce.