NIST Releases Draft Cybersecurity Framework for Transportation Systems

That risk is now getting overdue attention with the release of a new draft cybersecurity framework for public and private transportation systems from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

As outlined by NextGov/FCW, the draft framework starts from a simple premise. Transportation systems never really stop. They operate through storms, emergencies and daily peak demand. That constant motion, combined with growing digital controls, creates a tempting target for cyberattacks. A successful intrusion could disrupt service, threaten passenger safety or complicate evacuations during a crisis. Despite this, transportation has lagged behind other sectors in developing clear and shared guidance for managing cyber risk.

NIST’s new Transit Cybersecurity Framework Community Profile is meant to close that gap. The document, developed by the agency’s National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, is voluntary and open for public comment through February 23, 2026. Per NextGov, it is designed to help transit agencies of all kinds align their existing security efforts with the broader NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0, while accounting for the unique demands of transportation environments.

Those demands are significant. Modern transit systems are complex webs of technology. They include signaling and train control systems, fare payment tools, vehicle tracking, dispatch platforms and communications networks. Many rely on wireless connections and older equipment that was never designed with cyber threats in mind. Unlike an office network, much of this technology is physically spread out and often moving, which makes monitoring and protection harder.

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This complexity increases the risk profile. According to NIST, cyberattacks against transit systems have grown more frequent and more damaging in recent years. An attack does not need to shut down an entire network to cause harm. Disrupting a single safety function or communications link could delay emergency response or put passengers in danger. The framework urges agencies to start by identifying which functions are most critical to safety and service and then focus protective efforts there.

Another theme running through the draft, according to NextGov, is interdependence. Transit systems do not operate in isolation. They rely on vendors, software suppliers, federal partners and in some cases private competitors. A weakness in one part of that ecosystem can ripple outward. The framework encourages information sharing and coordination across the sector, recognizing that no single agency can manage cyber risk alone.

NIST also emphasizes flexibility. A small municipal bus system does not face the same challenges as a large regional rail network. The framework is designed to scale so agencies can adopt practices that match their size, resources and risk tolerance. The goal is progress, not perfection. Even modest improvements can reduce the chance that a cyber incident turns into a safety crisis.

Federal transportation regulators have already begun to link cybersecurity with physical safety. The Federal Transit Administration now requires rail operators to certify that they have processes in place to identify and reduce cyber risk as part of their safety programs. NIST’s draft framework builds on that momentum by offering more detailed and sector specific guidance.

The release of this draft highlights a broader point. Transportation networks may be overlooked, but they are foundational to daily life and emergency response. As they become more digital, they also become more vulnerable. NIST’s framework does not promise quick fixes. Instead, it provides a clearer path for agencies to understand their risks and take practical steps to manage them. For systems that never stop moving, that clarity is long overdue.