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.
According to the Department of Homeland, there are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose
assets, systems, and networks are considered vital to the United States(Nemeth, 2017). Most of
these sectors are vulnerable because of cyberattacks. The increased connectivity of people and
devices to the internet has created an expanding attack surface that extends throughout the world.
Cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure are one of the most significant risks for the United
States. I believe that the most vulnerable critical infrastructure is the Food and Agriculture sector.
This sector is comprised of an estimated 2.1 million farms, 935,000 restaurants, and more than
200,000 registered food manufacturing, processing, and storage facilities (Food and Agriculture,
2018). The Food and Agriculture sector is almost entirely under private ownership and accounts
for roughly one-fifth of the nation’s economic activity. Food and Agriculture are the most
vulnerable because over 60% percent of small businesses, including farmers, who become cyber-
crime victims exit the industry within 6 months of an attack caused by irrecoverable system
failure (West, 2018). Also, food tampering has happened in processing, storage, and retail
operations in the past, and can also be a future terrorism strategy. All it takes is one disgruntled
employee or someone planning a joke to intentionally contaminate food. In regards to agriculture
security, teaching farmers how to understand cyber-attack vulnerabilities in the technology itself
can have a positive impact on security. West (2018) developed a framework that addresses how
farmers are able to combat cyberattacks on their equipment. “The principle-based framework
addresses the need to capture and encrypt data, storing data only in appropriate locations,
limiting access to actuation systems and automated vehicles through strictly controlled channels
of communication, and only acting on data-driven systems when the system is deemed secure”
(West, 2018, p. 322). In the food sector, there are multiple steps that one can take to enhance
security. These steps can include keeping the food storage areas secure, train staff to notice and
report signs of food tampering, and verifying ID of new or different delivery people.
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?
I believe our borders are protected as much as they can be. There are approximately 21,000
agents who patrol 6,000 miles of U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders, and 2,000 miles of
costal waters around Florida and Puerto Rico (Christie, 2017). I think it is important to secure
our borders because it is the foundation of protecting the homeland. There are a number of
individuals that come into the country and go unaccounted for. The fact that our borders can be
penetrated so easily leaves us vulnerable to national security threats. When borders go
unprotected criminal activity such as drug and human trafficking are likely to increase. We are a
nation of immigrants and must continue to help those in need from different country. But I
believe it is important that immigrants come here legally. We naturalize more new citizens per
year than the rest of the world combined and thatreason why it is important to have secure
borders. My proposal for a more secure border would consist of renovating land ports of entry
and border crossing, and properly staff them with capable employees. Providing border patrol
with more sensors and communications technology would help enhance border security. With
this technology, border patrol agents would have to be careful not to infringe on the civil liberties
of border zone residents. Lastly, providing financial and career inducements to retain existing
border security personnel (bonuses, hardship pay, moving expenses). Paying border patrol agents
more money in fast paced enviroment could be more cost-effective than recruiting and training
thousands of agents.
Scripture
In Exodus 12:49, it states that “The same law applies both to the native born and the foreigner
receding among you.” While there is nothing wrong with immigrants coming into the United
States; they should be expected to be held to the same jurisdiction in the land they are currently
choosing to reside in. Understanding the laws of the land are crucial to not only the success of
the nation, but also to the stabilization of futuristic society.
References
Christie, K. (2017). Border patrol, social media and transnational messaging. Homeland Security
Affairs,
ESV Study Bible. (2008). Crossway Books.
Food and Agriculture Sector. (2018, March 1). Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Retrieved December 8, 2021, from https://www.cisa.gov/food-and-agriculture-sector
West, J. (2018). A prediction model framework for cyber-attacks to precision agriculture
technologies. Journal of Agricultural & Food Information, 19(4), 307-330.
