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HM502

Unit 5 DQ

Topic 1: Infrastructure Protection

A detailed discussion of threats to and the process of protecting critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) sectors from man-made and natural disasters are essential for understanding one of the main missions of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In detailed analysis of threats and protection challenges, several CI/KR sectors have emerged that require the attention of DHS professionals. These sectors include:

· Agriculture and Food

· Banking and Finance

· Communications

· Defense Industrial Base

· Energy

· Information Technology

· National Monuments and Icons

· Transportation Systems

· Water

What are some of the major threats to the CI/KR sectors identified above? Discuss some of the critical vulnerabilities of these CI/KR sectors. What are some of the prime consequences if these CI/KR sectors are damaged or destroyed? Describe DHS plans to deter threats, mitigate vulnerabilities, and minimize consequences.

Topic 1 Student Response #1 (Respond to Jeffery)

Jeffery Bailey

Hello classmates/Professor

 

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 provides the basis for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsibilities in the protection of the Nation’s CIKR. The act assigns DHS the responsibility for developing a comprehensive national plan for securing CIKR and for recommending the “measures necessary to protect the key resources and critical infrastructure of the United States coordination with other agencies of the Federal Government and in cooperation with State and

local government agencies and authorities, the private sector, and other entities. (Chertoff, 2009) The NIPP defines the organizational structures that provide

the framework for coordination of CIKR protection efforts at all levels of government, their framework includes the action of setting goals and objectives, Identify Assets, Systems and Networks, Assess Risk, consequences, vulnerabilities, and threats. Prioritize, Implement Programs and Measure effectiveness.

 

The NIPP Conducts research and development and using technology to improve CIKR protection-related capabilities to ensure refined risk assessments for many years into the future. The NIPP assistance programs offers Federal grant assistance to State, local, tribal, and territorial entities; and complement relevant private sector activities. Part of their mission is to make America safer and more secure from cyber attacks and also both man made and natural disasters. Together, the NIPP and SSPs provide the mechanisms for identifying critical assets, systems, and networks, and their associated sectors. In dealing with risk and emergencies the NIPP has Sector Specific Agencies that are assigned certain areas of responsibilities such as Agriculture, Food, Energy and Water. Banking and Finance Communications, in dealing with the potential risk that may befall any of these entities the NIPP takes critical steps to assess, mitigate, protect, and plan for future emergencies. One main threat to the entities that are named of course is terrorism, terrorist will use any of these agencies to obtain or control or impose a certain agenda. These are all areas that can have devastating consequences to a city or state if under the control of a terrorist organization. For instance a tainted water system at its base could affect an cities health and resources, for this reason California created a comprehensive review plan along with DHS to address possible water system attacks also cyber-attack as we have seen in our elections process can bring down an informational structure or render it ineffective, some of the vulnerabilities to these types of entities is the ever-changing face of technology. In America we are relying more and more on technology which in itself makes us vulnerable to the wrong element. DHS works with CIKR partners to develop or improve consequence assessment methodologies that can be applied to a variety of asset such as the stated ones in this discussion. The DHS provides scenarios for possible vulnerabilities in these areas, they asses possible damages, possible fatalities, and assess the economic loss to the economy. These are all ways that risk mitigation and assessment help to protect certain vulnerable assets.

 

 Chertoff, M. (2009). https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf. National Infrastructure Protection Plan, pg1-188.

Topic 1: Student Response #2 (Respond to Skyler)

Skyler Fry

According to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), the greatest risks to national security are severe weather, catastrophic natural disasters, pandemic illnesses, technical failures or accidents, chemical spills, acts of terrorism, cyber-attacks, and other crimes with the intent to disrupt essential services (U.S. Department of Homeland Security., 2009). The energy sector is one of the most vulnerable sectors as much of the energy infrastructure is severely dated due to being privatized and the private organizations only updating on a as needed basis in order to expand their profit margin (American Society of Civil Engineers., 2021). The risk of cyber attacks is also greater in this sector than most of the other sectors due to the exploitability available with holding power hostage. Many of the sectors are interdependent upon another, for example if their is a severe fuel shortage in the energy sector that would impact the transportation sector which would in turn impact the food and agriculture sector. The consequences involved if a sector is damaged or destroyed include but are not limited to; major economic and financial impact, security vulnerability, and lack of basic necessities if not repaired or replaced in a sufficient timeframe (Weiss & Weiss, 2019). According to the National Strategy for Homeland Security, DHS acts as a liaison for interagency and inter-sector cooperation to ensure that each sector is strengthening their security in order to mitigate against potential threats and ensuring that vulnerabilities are addressed through various risk assessment strategies (U.S. Department of Homeland Security., 2003). 

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2009).  National infrastructure physical protection plan . pp. 1-105. Retrieved from  http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf

U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2003, February)  The national strategy for the physical protection of critical infrastructures and key assets.  Retrieved from  http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/Physical_Strategy.pdf.  pp 35-82.

American Society of Civil Engineers. (2021). Energy. ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card .  https://infrastructurereportcard.org/cat-item/energy/.

Weiss, M., & Weiss, M. (2019). An assessment of threats to the American Power Grid. Energy, Sustainability and Society.  https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13705-019-0199-y.