UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry
The UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD, 2022) issued by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) under the Water Industry Act 1991 establishes security requirements for water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. SEMD requires water companies to protect their infrastructure against threats including cyber attacks, physical security threats, and contamination. Water companies must conduct risk assessments, implement security measures, and maintain emergency plans. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) oversees drinking water quality security. Cyber resilience requirements align with NIS Regulations 2018 (and NIS2 transposition) as water is designated a critical national infrastructure sector.
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Framework Domains (5)
Cyber Security and Resilience
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEMD-CS-1 | Operational Technology Protection |
| SEMD-CS-2 | NIS Regulations Compliance |
| SEMD-CS-3 | Cyber Resilience |
Emergency Response and Testing
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEMD-ER-1 | Emergency Exercise and Testing |
| SEMD-ER-2 | Alternative Water Deployment |
| SEMD-ER-3 | Vulnerable Customer Protection |
| SEMD-ER-4 | DWI Reporting and Compliance |
Physical Security
Requirements for physical protection of Defence facilities, information and assets
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| DSPF-PHYS-1 | Physical Security Management |
| DSPF-PHYS-2 | Facility Security Zones |
| DSPF-PHYS-3 | Physical Access Controls |
| DSPF-PHYS-4 | Security Equipment |
| DSPF-PHYS-5 | Visitor Management |
| PSPF-PHYS-1 | Physical Security Management |
| PSPF-PHYS-2 | Facility Security Zones |
| PSPF-PHYS-3 | Physical Access Controls |
| PSPF-PHYS-4 | Physical Security of ICT |
| SEMD-PS-1 | Critical Infrastructure Protection |
| SEMD-PS-2 | Site Security Measures |
| SEMD-PS-3 | Supply Chain Security |
Resourcing and Capability
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEMD-RC-1 | Capability and Capacity |
| SEMD-RC-2 | Facilities and Resources |
| SEMD-RC-3 | Workforce Readiness |
Security Planning
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| SEMD-SP-1 | Security Plan Development |
| SEMD-SP-2 | Risk Identification and Assessment |
| SEMD-SP-3 | National Security Considerations |
| SEMD-SP-4 | Civil Emergency Preparedness |
Maps to 481 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry?
UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry is a compliance framework from United Kingdom with 5 domains and 26 controls. The UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD, 2022) issued by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) under the Water Industry Act 1991 establishes security requirements for water and sewerage companies in England and Wales. SEMD requires water companies to protect their infrastructure against threats including cyber attacks, physical security threats, and contamination. Water companies must conduct risk assessments, implement security measures, and maintain emergency plans. The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) oversees drinking water quality security. Cyber resilience requirements align with NIS Regulations 2018 (and NIS2 transposition) as water is designated a critical national infrastructure sector. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry have?
UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry has 26 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Physical Security (12 controls), Emergency Response and Testing (4 controls), Security Planning (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry map to?
UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry maps to 481 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are Defence Security Principles Framework (DSPF) (38% coverage), Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) Release 2024 (38% coverage), US EPA Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) — Cybersecurity Requirements (38% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with UK Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD) — Water Industry compliance?
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