And that is the Downside of the My Private Business trope. Say what you want about the Government. But at least mandatory training in a skill is required.
And this is why certain regulations on important infrastructure companies is necessary. My private business is all well and good if you are a small corner store. It is not when anything you do or don't do can screw over millions of Americans.
Still doesn't mean an Intranet can't be set up that runs along the pipeline. I won't be hard at all to have Fiber Optic Cable for such an internet to be laid along the pipeline. That way everything can be off the internet.