Critical infrastructure: Difference between revisions

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imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(New page: {{TOC|right}} If a nation were a living being, '''critical infrastructure''' would be the blood vessels, nervous system, immune responses, and other functions necessary for it to function....)
 
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
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If a nation were a living being, '''critical infrastructure''' would be the blood vessels, nervous system, immune responses, and other functions necessary for it to function. U.S. policy was first stated by President [[Bill Clinton]] in Presidential Decision Directive 63:<blockquote>physical and cyber-based systems essential to the minimum operations of the economy and government. They include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, energy, banking and finance, transportation, water systems and emergency services, both governmental and private. Many of the nation's critical infrastructures have historically been physically and logically separate systems that had little interdependence. As a result of advances in information technology and the necessity of improved efficiency, however, these infrastructures have become increasingly automated and interlinked. These same advances have created new vulnerabilities to equipment failure, human error, weather and other natural causes, and physical and cyber attacks. Addressing these vulnerabilities will necessarily require flexible, evolutionary approaches that span both the public and private sectors, and protect both domestic and international security.<ref>{{citation
If a nation were a living being, '''critical infrastructure''' would be the blood vessels, nervous system, immune responses, and other functions necessary for it to function. U.S. policy was first stated by President [[Bill Clinton]] in Presidential Decision Directive 63, and most industrialized nations have equivalents:<blockquote>physical and cyber-based systems essential to the minimum operations of the economy and government. They include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, energy, banking and finance, transportation, water systems and emergency services, both governmental and private. Many of the nation's critical infrastructures have historically been physically and logically separate systems that had little interdependence. As a result of advances in information technology and the necessity of improved efficiency, however, these infrastructures have become increasingly automated and interlinked. These same advances have created new vulnerabilities to equipment failure, human error, weather and other natural causes, and physical and cyber attacks. Addressing these vulnerabilities will necessarily require flexible, evolutionary approaches that span both the public and private sectors, and protect both domestic and international security.<ref>{{citation
  | author = [[Bill Clinton]]
  | author = [[Bill Clinton]]
  | url = http://ftp.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/pdd-63.htm
  | url = http://ftp.fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd/pdd-63.htm
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==Critical missions==
==Critical missions==
===Information and communications===
===Information and communications===
If those trying to repair damaged infrastructure cannot communicate, little will be accomplished. It may not be intuitive, but the communications systems that have the highest priority for repair are not those assigned to top executives, but to network management and repair.
===Banking and finance===
===Banking and finance===
===Water supply===
===Water supply===

Revision as of 17:26, 3 July 2009

If a nation were a living being, critical infrastructure would be the blood vessels, nervous system, immune responses, and other functions necessary for it to function. U.S. policy was first stated by President Bill Clinton in Presidential Decision Directive 63, and most industrialized nations have equivalents:

physical and cyber-based systems essential to the minimum operations of the economy and government. They include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, energy, banking and finance, transportation, water systems and emergency services, both governmental and private. Many of the nation's critical infrastructures have historically been physically and logically separate systems that had little interdependence. As a result of advances in information technology and the necessity of improved efficiency, however, these infrastructures have become increasingly automated and interlinked. These same advances have created new vulnerabilities to equipment failure, human error, weather and other natural causes, and physical and cyber attacks. Addressing these vulnerabilities will necessarily require flexible, evolutionary approaches that span both the public and private sectors, and protect both domestic and international security.[1]

Critical missions

Information and communications

If those trying to repair damaged infrastructure cannot communicate, little will be accomplished. It may not be intuitive, but the communications systems that have the highest priority for repair are not those assigned to top executives, but to network management and repair.


Banking and finance

Water supply

Transportation

Emergency services

Public health services

Continuity of government services

Electrical power

Oil and gas production and storage

References