Critical infrastructure includes a great many areas of concern and focus. Thinking back
to risk and mitigation, these two areas tie directly to critical infrastructure protection,
don’t they? Within mitigation, we discussed two ways to mitigate: structural and non-
structural efforts.
What do you believe is our most vulnerable critical infrastructure (choose any you
wish except the border)?
Why do you say this?
How would you enhance security regarding this type of infrastructure?
Remember there are two types of mitigation efforts.
The second part of this discussion deals specifically with border security and
immigration policy.
How secure are our borders?
Is it important to secure our borders, and if so, why or why not?
What would you propose to better secure our borders?
When discussing mitigation, there must be plans for all types of events that could be detrimental to an
agency, area, community, or organization. These plans generally look to preserve the infrastructure of
the affected. The infrastructure can be physical as in the border, a building, or an area. It can also be
nonstructural including transportation, fuel, energy, food, and communications. My belief in the most
vulnerable critical infrastructure is in cyber infrastructure. The cyber infrastructures control processes all
around our nation. The processes involve controlling energy, controlling electricity, controlling oil or gas
systems, and vast majority of companies operating with banking systems online. If you disrupt any of
these, it can drastically negatively affect the whole country. Take for instance, we had a hurricane that
shut down off-shore oil rigs and during that time the supply lines were shut off and prices rose along
with shortages. Take that further that a threat finds a way to infiltrate the cyber system of it to shut it
down for extended period how badly that could affect the United States. “The vast majority of, if not all,
critical infrastructures are dependent on information systems. Thus, a disruption to a cyber-
infrastructure can lead to serious consequences that affect the performance, reliability, security and
safety of the dependent infrastructures. The massive dependence on the cyber infrastructure has
created the new research area known as critical information infrastructure protection (CIIP)” (Alcaraz,
2015, p. 54). Not just here in the United States, but all countries must deal with the newest way of
protecting their country. This new way is to protect the online cybersecurity.
The new arena of cybersecurity is ever-growing and there is a need to train as well as implement
practices or safe policies for protecting cyber-infrastructure. I would recommend agencies creating
cybersecurity teams just as they would loss prevention. If you do not put into place an Information
Technology group with plans to disrupt hackers, you will be behind and eventually open the risk for
cyberattack. I would put college training in place, recruitment for job placement, and federal agencies
with squads specifically in regards to cyber. Some of this is already coming into place and hopefully it
grows.
As we look at our border infrastructure, the United States is extremely large with geographic land
borders that cannot be covered at all times. The border patrol agents we have attempt to do the best
job, however they will never truly protect our borders from all coming in. These coverage areas are
almost impossible to understand the size and creates an overwhelming task. Hopefully, we can increase
the abilities to manage them with new technology and increasing ways to have our agents mobility
increased. We have a large problem with protecting our borders and I would deem them unsecure. If you
have the money or motive, you can find a way to gain a way into the United States. Taking into
consideration the drug market, drugs find their way across the borders all day every day. If drugs are
making it across, then you know people are as well. Protecting our borders are very important. Any
threats that are going to take place to American Society come from domestic or foreign, but if they are to
complete terroristic actions, they will make their way here.
There is heavy debate on walls, fences, or other barriers to protecting our borders. I am not sure that
these are heavily going to protect our borders, but I do believe that it creates a small deterrence. There
are many new ways that Border Patrol uses with cameras, helicopters, horses, ATV, and personnel.
“Border protection also employs natural barriers such as rivers, streams, ravines, mountains, cliffs, and
other natural artifices to deliver security. Rivers make exceptional barriers, though illegal aliens have long
mastered the art of crossing them” (Nemeth, 2016, p. 368). If we are going to increase our border
security, there will have to be legislation that is clear on how to handle illegal immigration and there will
have to be a mass increase in the personnel to handle the protection.
Luke 11:21-22 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace; but
when one stronger than he assails him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted,
and divides his spoil” This interprets to me a means of self-defense and protect what is yours. I am not
here to say that there should be no immigration as there are always exceptions, but everyone entering
the country is not always here for good intents.
Alcaraz, Cristina, Zeadally, Sherali. (2015). Critical infrastructure protection: Requirements and challenges
for the 21st century. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection. Volume 8. Pages 53-66.
ISSN 1874-5482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcip.2014.12.002
Nemeth, C.P. P. (2016). Homeland Security (3rd Edition). Taylor &
Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781498749121
“The task of protecting the nation’s borders constitutes a major core competency for those involved in
homeland security. It is an astounding responsibility with coverage areas that are almost impossible to
compute. The sheer size of American geography makes the task overwhelming, though with increasing
usage of technology and aircraft tools, our borders are dramatically improving” (Nemeth, 2016, p. 359).
With nearly 7000 miles of American border, CBP has a serious problem when it comes to ensuring the
integrity of our borders. 361
The Southwest region of the United States has long been in dire need of perimeter and barrier
protection. More than 670 miles of new fence have been installed and a wide array of natural barriers
employed to halt the influx of illegal immigrants entering the country. While physical fencing is still
heavily relied on, the nature of barriers continues to evolve. Aside from fence, CBP uses367
Vehicle bollards similar to those found around federal buildings
“Post on rail” steel set in concrete with a mesh option
Steel picket-style fence set in concrete
Concrete jersey walls with steel mesh
Normandy vehicle fence consisting of steel beams to thwart vehicular attacks
immigration with compassion. Jesus welcomed all who sought to travel with him. As believers, border
security must not be confused with compassionate acceptance of those wishing to become Americans.
,
I agree that maintaining a safe and efficient infrastructure is necessary to secure the success of our
economy. Part of this infrastructure that I believe is most important lies with cybersecurity. We are both
on the same points to this as you reference specifically it to energy and gas via the pipelines. The
processes involve controlling energy, controlling electricity, controlling oil or gas systems, and vast
majority of companies operating with banking systems online. If you disrupt any of these, it can
drastically negatively affect the whole country. I was interested to see your example with Colonial
Pipeline and their attack in 2021. The facts you presented were ones that I had no knowledge about
including the 100GB data robbed and the $5 million dollar ransom that was paid. I do remember the
disruption of fuel on the east coast. I live in Greensboro, NC and the pipeline infrastructure is very
important here with a large area of massive fuel storage tanks at the northern side of the city. As you
stated, there is no way to protect 190,000 miles of pipeline, no more than we can ever cover every inch
of our borders. Both items are large security risks that we live with every day. I would recommend
agencies creating cybersecurity teams just as they would loss prevention. If you do not put into place an
Information Technology group with plans to disrupt hackers, you will be behind and eventually open the
risk for cyberattack. I would put college training in place, recruitment for job placement, and federal
agencies with squads specifically in regards to cyber. Some of this is already coming into place and
hopefully it grows. Nemeth (2016) shows us that there are nearly 7000 miles of American border and our
Border Patrol cannot ensure the integrity of our borders. There is heavy debate on walls, fences, or other
barriers to protecting our borders. I am not sure that these are heavily going to protect our borders, but I
do believe that it creates a small deterrence. There are many new ways that Border Patrol uses with
cameras, helicopters, horses, ATV, and personnel.
Alcaraz, Cristina, Zeadally, Sherali. (2015). Critical infrastructure protection: Requirements and challenges
for the 21st century. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection. Volume 8. Pages 53-66.
ISSN 1874-5482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcip.2014.12.002
Nemeth, C.P. P. (2016). Homeland Security (3rd Edition). Taylor &
Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781498749121
,
I believe that a lot of us have named Cybersecurity as the main focal point for infrastructure. Maintaining
a safe and efficient infrastructure is crucial for American success. The percentages you displayed were
interesting to learn. I didn’t know that 80% of our cyber-attacks were targeting governmental agencies or
that 58% of the cyber-attacks originated in Russia. $6 Trillion dollars in damage is absurd to think of. The
new arena of cybersecurity is ever-growing and there is a need to train as well as implement practices or
safe policies for protecting cyber-infrastructure. I would recommend agencies creating cybersecurity
teams just as they would loss prevention. If you do not put into place an Information Technology group
with plans to disrupt hackers, you will be behind and eventually open the risk for cyberattack. I would
put college training in place, recruitment for job placement, and federal agencies with squads specifically
in regards to cyber. Some of this is already coming into place and hopefully it grows. This is in line with
what you stated about policies and procedures. The borders protection with the largest threats being
criminal networks and terrorists is correct. The best way to mitigate it would be to have enough staff
deployed to handle it. Without staff and the proper utilization of technology this will fail us. Immigration
with compassion. Jesus welcomed all who sought to travel with him. As believers, border security must
not be confused with compassionate acceptance of those wishing to become Americans. There has to be
a balance though.
Alcaraz, Cristina, Zeadally, Sherali. (2015). Critical infrastructure protection: Requirements and challenges
for the 21st century. International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection. Volume 8. Pages 53-66.
ISSN 1874-5482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcip.2014.12.002
Nemeth, C.P. P. (2016). Homeland Security (3rd Edition). Taylor &
Francis. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781498749121
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