Iran is thought to be behind recent attacks affecting municipal water systems, including two in New Jersey.
Experts say such incidents highlight how cyberspace has become a battleground in modern conflicts.
"Think of cyberspace as equaling the force," said Rob D'Ovidio, an associate professor of criminology at Drexel University.
D'Ovidio said cyberattacks can provide an alternative means of targeting adversaries.
"We're likely seeing them saying I may not be able to get you in a conventional warfare space, but I can get you in cyberspace," he said.
He added that critical infrastructure systems are attractive targets because of their potential public impact.
"Why choose a water infrastructure to attack?" asked Action News reporter TaRhonda Thomas.
"Well," said D'Ovidio, "the water infrastructure creates mass hysteria."
There have been no confirmations of anyone being sickened or injured due to hacking activity to water systems.
Aaron Katersky, ABC News chief investigative correspondent, spoke to Action News about the issue. His investigations have found that the attacks appear to have exploited weaknesses in software commonly used by utility providers.
"The hack itself does not appear to be terribly complicated. It appears the hackers were able to exploit a vulnerability in software that's commonly used by utilities," Katersky said.
Katersky said federal officials have been reluctant to discuss the attacks publicly.
"Nobody is eager to talk about the potential of a cyber attack, especially if it is confirmed to be by Iran. But we know that Iran has for years signaled that this is how they could retaliate," he said.
The incidents have increased the importance of organizations such as the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell.
Officials with the New Jersey office of Homeland Security declined to identify the municipalities involved, but confirmed they investigated two cyberattacks in New Jersey that temporarily limited water system operators' ability to monitor or manage their systems. Authorities said both affected systems have since been strengthened.
D'Ovidio said preventing future attacks will require cooperation between government agencies and infrastructure operators.
"In order for us to safeguard, to prevent it from happening again, we need those two sides working together," he said.
Katersky said utilities across the country are updating their systems and installing a fix developed by the software provider whose product was exploited in the attacks.