Essay Sample on National Infrastructure Protection Plan: Public-Private Partnerships for National Security

Introduction

The department of homeland security released the national infrastructure protection plan to secure the country's critical infrastructure and critical resources (CIKRs). These CIKRs are majorly owned and operated privately. Therefore in securing these CIKRs, it requires a full collaboration between the government and the private sector. This type of public, private partnership is vital to the national infrastructure protection plan, and it is essential in a country's national security, public health and safety, economic growth, and the lifestyle of citizens. The protection plan majorly focuses on ensuring that crucial governmental activities are maintained in case of a disaster or terrorist activities in the country (Homeland Security Council, 2007). This paper looks into the essentiality of the partnerships between the private and public security apparatus in securing the nation.

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The CIKR strategy is a risk management framework. It sets out the strengths of each infrastructure, and hence weaknesses are established in advance. With this essential knowledge, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can effectively partner with private security firms in setting up a reliable defense mechanism. This type of framework can establish continuous vulnerabilities and threats to critical infrastructures (Busch, Nathan, and Austen, 2012). The DHS is also able to implement protection plans, set priorities based on risk assessments, and be able to assess risks.

The collaboration between private and public security sectors ensures that there is coordination to facilitate the free exchange of vital information, security planning, and awareness of possible threats. The private security does operate the essential facilities, and their understanding of this infrastructure is indispensable in these partnerships. The NIPP information-sharing approach is more of a networked model that calls for distribution and access to essential information either vertically or horizontally. It also facilitates the decentralization of decision making and actions. The NIPP network approach of information sharing ensures there is awareness and improves the ability of the government and private sector partners to assess risks and set up mitigation programs. The existence of the DHS infrastructure threat and risk analysis center helps in carrying out threat analysis for all CIKR sectors, NIPP 2006. Besides, they are equipped with essential intelligence and infrastructure specialist who offer adequate information on potential risks and threats.

The country's CIKRs do require substantial inputs of private security. Sectors such as the water and water systems sector, nuclear sector, transportation systems sector, healthcare sector, and energy sector do require huge commitments from the private securities (Homeland Security Council, 2007). These sectors require a deep understanding by the security responsible as any compromise on them may lead to mass damage to the country and its citizens. The public forces also continuously monitor these delicate sectors to ensure all-round protection against disasters. This call for the dedication of more efforts and inputs in the securing of these strategic infrastructures are essential to the country but can also be deadly to the nation.

The nuclear sector consists of atomic reactors, materials, and waste sectors. It houses essential nuclear assets such as power reactors, medical isotopes, and other reactors. The DHS is responsible for ensuring the coordination of security activities and the resilience of this sector. The sector has an established plan detailed on how NIPP risk management should be implemented in the case of disasters or terrorism. The program also helps in setting priorities on areas to secure in the case the disaster hits these sectors.

The private security has a deep understanding of the sector, hence will ensure that the industry rises back to its feet upon being hit by a disaster or terrorism (Homeland Security Council, 2007). The immediate response and recovery activities are also documented, and the private and public partnerships must conduct them for it to be effective. They will share information to mitigate the risks of the disaster and ensure minimal effects. The private security assists significantly in covering the government deficiencies in response and recovery efforts. This effort dramatically minimizes the level of damage caused to the country and its citizens. The nuclear sector is the most important as it can cause the most significant damage to both the current and future generations if much attention is not given into it. The public and private partnerships are, therefore, essential in ensuring maximum security of the sector.

Private security is a critical player in the disaster management process. Therefore its partnership with public safety offers a lot of positivity to the entire DHS in its efforts to secure the CIKR. This partnership mobilizes resources effectively and channeling them towards a specific aim and equipping themselves with strong skills. It, therefore, leads to specialization in different areas hence the ability to secure the CIKRs.

Conclusion

Conclusively this paper brings out how public-private partnerships are essential to homeland security in totality. The public, the private collaboration can enable the government and business pool resources together to ensure that maximum security measures are put in place to protect CIKRs of the country. Both the private and public security has to work for hand in fulfilling the needs of these sectors.

References

Busch, Nathan E., and Austen D. Givens. "Public-Private Partnerships in Homeland Security: Opportunities and Challenges." Homeland Security Affairs 8, Article 18 (October 2012)

Homeland Security Council. (2007). National strategy for homeland security