Transit infrastructure is evolving faster and faster.

From smart traffic signals to connected train stations and vehicle telemetry systems, today's transit networks rely heavily on data and connectivity. But as the tech stack grows, so does the threat landscape. What used to be a self-contained signal cabinet is now a potential cyberattack target.

As public transit agencies deploy more digital systems to improve efficiency, safety, and rider experience, they must also face a hard truth: Connectivity without cybersecurity is a disaster waiting to happen.

Using the advice from Metro's transit cybersecurity blog, let's explore:

• What makes transit systems vulnerable
• Why traditional approaches to security don't go far enough
• How you can build a secure foundation that protects every inch of your infrastructure

Whether it's managing buses, trains, or an entire intermodal transportation network, let's dive into strengthening your security strategy.

Prepare for the Rising Threats to Transit Networks

Transit systems are known for being visible, essential, and increasingly dependent on connected systems. As a result, these systems have become prime targets for cyberattacks.

Train control systems, automated fare collection, surveillance cameras, passenger Wi-Fi, digital signage, and even HVAC in stations are now managed via networked infrastructure. That creates dozens (if not hundreds) of possible access points for malicious actors.

And the more connected your network becomes, the more one weak link can compromise the whole chain.

Consider What's at Stake:

• Traffic signal networks could be manipulated, leading to citywide gridlock or dangerous intersection conditions.
• Train control systems could be disrupted, risking derailments or halting service altogether.
• Passenger data - from mobile ticketing apps or onboard Wi-Fi - could be harvested for identity theft.
• Operations centers could be locked out of critical systems, disrupting transit service and decreasing public trust.
• Security cameras and emergency communications could be disabled, making stations vulnerable to criminal activity.

While some may laugh off "Hollywood-style" scenarios like all-green lights (causing traffic accidents and jams), the technical possibility of real-world network manipulation is no joke. Every unsecured port, protocol, or connection is a vulnerability just waiting to be exploited.

In fact, we've already seen ransomware attacks shut down transportation networks, including railways, port terminals, and urban transit agencies. These weren't hypothetical cases - they were extremely expensive, real-world lessons in the cost of underprepared infrastructure.

Commonplace Security Setups Often Don't Cut It

Transit agencies are trying to do the right thing. Many have deployed firewalls, VPNs, and even multi-factor authentication.

But here's the problem: many of these defenses are designed for office IT - not industrial transit systems.

Transit infrastructure has unique challenges:

• Legacy hardware that was never designed to connect to the internet now rides alongside modern IP-based equipment.
• Limited segmentation between systems means a breach in one area (say, a passenger Wi-Fi router) can cascade into signal control or fare collection networks.
• Vendor-proprietary devices often come with default logins or insecure protocols - and can be hard to monitor centrally.
• Distributed remote sites like signal cabinets, power substations, train yards, and even platform kiosks often lack physical security and continuous oversight.

In some cases, you might not even know how many network-connected assets you have, let alone how secure they are. With multiple vendors, mismatched firmware versions, and inconsistent update practices, visibility can be half the battle.

Plus, with tight budgets and limited staff resources, you've got a recipe for under-protected, overexposed infrastructure.

You Need A Cyber-Hardened Transit Infrastructure

What would true cybersecurity look like for your transit systems?

It's more than just "installing antivirus." It's about architecture, visibility, and layered defenses - designed with transit in mind.

The Fundamentals of Transit Cybersecurity:

1. Network Segmentation
   Every major system - signals, fare, comms, video surveillance - should live on its own protected VLAN or private subnet. That way, a breach in one area doesn't automatically grant access to everything else.
2. Device Hardening
   Each field device (controllers, switches, routers, etc.) must be configured with secure credentials, access controls, and updated firmware. Default passwords and open ports are unacceptable.
3. Redundancy & Resilience
   If one system goes down or is attacked, another should take over. This includes physical path redundancy (fiber, LTE, radio) and logical failover capabilities. Redundant power, dual-homed networks, and failover VPNs are no longer optional.
4. Physical Alarm Monitoring
   Physical breaches (open cabinets, power failures, overheating, flooding) are often precursors to cyberattacks. If someone's tampering with your gear in the field, you should know about it in real time - before they get inside your network.
5. Continuous Monitoring
   You can't defend what you can't see. Real-time alerts, SNMP traps, and alarm logging are your early warning system. Historical trends can even help detect slow-moving attacks or equipment deterioration.

When these fundamentals are in place, your network becomes far harder to compromise - and far easier to recover if something does go wrong.

This Is Where DPS Telecom Comes In

At DPS, we've helped transit agencies, utilities, and other infrastructure operators secure their networks for over 30 years. Our specialty is building rugged, secure, and intelligent remote monitoring and control solutions.

If you're dealing with the cybersecurity challenges of transit infrastructure, here's how DPS gear can help you take control - without replacing all your legacy hardware or locking into one vendor's ecosystem.

Segment and Monitor Your Infrastructure with NetGuardian RTUs

Our NetGuardian series of Remote Telemetry Units (RTUs) are built to bring intelligence, control, and monitoring to the edge of your network. Whether it's a signal cabinet, a remote substation, a train platform, or a communications node, a NetGuardian can:

• Monitor physical conditions like door status, temperature, and water ingress
• Report SNMP traps to your NOC or alarm master
• Mediate legacy protocols to SNMPv3 or MODBUS TCP/IP
• Trigger automatic failover responses based on real-world inputs
• Log events locally and send redundant alerts via multiple backhaul paths
• Support VLAN tagging to keep traffic isolated and secure

NetGuardians are built in the USA, backed by lifetime support, and field-tested by Class I railroads, DOTs, water utilities, and telecom giants. We design these units for hostile environments and critical uptime.

Mediate Between Old and New Technology

Transit agencies often struggle to secure older equipment that was installed before the era of modern networking. DPS provides SNMP mediation and protocol conversion, allowing you to:

• Integrate legacy signal controllers into secure, segmented networks
• Convert dry contact alarms into encrypted SNMPv3 traps
• Standardize alerting across equipment from multiple decades and vendors

With DPS mediation, you can secure older systems without a full forklift upgrade. That's budget-smart and operationally safer.

What Smart Cities Need from Smart Standards

As transportation systems grow more connected and cities adopt "smart infrastructure," standards like NTCIP are becoming even more important.

The National Transportation Communications for Intelligent Transportation System Protocol (NTCIP) ensures interoperability across devices from different vendors - but it must also evolve to ensure secure communication.

That means:

• Supporting SNMPv3 or other secure protocols by default
• Encouraging encrypted firmware updates and tamper-proof configurations
• Establishing best practices for network segmentation and device hardening

At DPS, we support these efforts by building devices that are:

• Protocol-agnostic, supporting MODBUS, SNMP, TL1, and more
• Secure by default, with no active public interfaces or default passwords
• Customizable, so agencies can comply with local policies or national mandates

We work with you to make sure that your implementation is both standards-compliant and secure - two things that don't always go hand in hand.

DPS Gear Is the Right Fit

Unlike "bolt-on" security from big equipment vendors, DPS devices are purpose-built for network visibility, security, and control.

We don't make buses. We don't make trains. We make the gear that protects those systems from going down - or getting hacked.

When you deploy DPS gear, you get:

• Security by design, not by patchwork
• Instant visibility into every corner of your network
• Protocol mediation across old and new systems
• Fast, reliable alarms to warn you of cyber (or physical) breaches
• Flexible integration with whatever infrastructure you already have

Our systems are built for mission-critical use and supported by engineers who actually understand transit operations. Whether you're trying to avoid NTCIP vulnerabilities, mediate SNMP across hundreds of sites, or secure a signal system that was installed in the '90s, we've got you covered.

Ready to Secure Your Transit Network?

Transit systems don't get second chances.

When infrastructure fails - whether due to a cyberattack, power outage, or human error - the impact is immediate. Riders are stranded, schedules unravel, and trust erodes.

You need gear that's built with purpose, proven in the field, and backed by a team that lives and breathes secure infrastructure.

At DPS Telecom, we help transit leaders like you:

• Audit and assess existing vulnerabilities
• Design resilient network architectures
• Deploy secure alarm monitoring and telemetry solutions
• Integrate with existing NOC, SCADA, or enterprise systems

Call us now at 559‑454‑1600
Email us at sales@dpstele.com

The future of public transportation depends on secure, reliable systems. Let's make sure yours is ready.