Securing Nation's Sectors: Homeland Security and CIKR Planning

In an attempt to secure the nation's private and public sectors, the Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials divide the sectors into Critical Infrastructures and Key Resources (CIKR) for planning and coordination of protection of the resources. Disaster management requires preparedness, which incorporates the efforts of the owners of the respective enterprises in planning. As outlined by the National Infrastructure Protection Plan, infrastructure is comprised of identifiable industries and institutions that are presented as interdependent network and systems networks. The infrastructure enhances the smooth running of the economy and security of the US and streamlines the functioning of the government at different levels. Therefore, protection of the CIKR is vital for the security of the country as well as disaster management.

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The 9/11 attack in 2001 changed the view structure of protection strategies for critical infrastructure. The 9/11 attack led to the publication of the National Strategy for Homeland Security in 2002, later followed by the national strategy for the physical protection of Critical Infrastructures and the Key Assets in 2003. In the same year, the Homeland Security Presidential Directive replaced Presidential Decision Directive 63 formed in 1998 after a series of attacks. The documents adopted after the 9/11 attack expanded the critical infrastructure from 8 sectors to 13 sectors and added five key assets. The documents also led to the first NIPP publication in 2006 (Ramsay & Logan, 2012).

National Policy Documents that inform CIKR Policy

The Homeland Security strategy is interwoven with the National Security Strategy published in 2010 and promotes the resilience of critical infrastructure. The National Infrastructure Protection plan of 2009 implemented the theme of resilience promotion in physical and social infrastructure. The presidential homeland directives establish national critical infrastructure protection. According to Ramsay and Logan (2012), understanding Critical Infrastructure protection and resilience entails the contribution of the HSPD-7, identification of critical infrastructure, prioritization, and protection strategies. The framework allows for the integration of various processes in identification, prioritization, and adoption of protection from terror threats by the federal government and other agencies. The HSPD outlines the roles and responsibilities along with duty assignment to the department of homeland security, along with establishing policy.

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) establishes a connecting framework across the different sectors. NIPP outlines the roles and responsibilities of federal agencies as well as particular elements of the Department of Homeland Security (Ramsay & Logan, 2012). NIPP also establishes a framework of partnership and cooperation of the public and private sector in driving the goals of confidentiality of business and federal information. The six-step Risk Management Framework guide the prioritization of infrastructure for protection based on the available resources and the political and social environment.

Designated Department of Homeland Security Sectors

DHS is designated into several sectors, with the foundational sectors emerging as the most important sectors to DHS. Water, energy, transportation, communications and cyber and IT are the foundational sectors of DHS. Energy, Cyber and IT and communications sectors are discussed in this paper based on the importance of national security, reliance on other sectors and the effects of the damage to particular sectors.

Energy infrastructure is the backbone of the US economy, with disruption in the supply threatening the health and welfare of the country. The energy sector is described by the Presidential Policy Directive 21 as uniquely critical as it influences the functioning of other critical infrastructure sectors. The energy infrastructure sector fuels the transport industry and electricity for household and production. The energy sector is coordinated by the department of energy, and it coordinates government plans with regards to energy. The 1977 power loss in the city of New York subjected Americans to loss of social order with reports of looting, arson, destruction and fear. According to Moteff (2010), the August 2003 blackout presented the significance and connection of electricity and other energy markets elements like oil refining and pipelines, communications and water supply. Therefore, damage to energy can reduce the national economic performance, water sector, cyber and IT sector and the communication sector along with other sectors. The communication sector promotes business activities, security and safety of the public and the government. The sector promotes vast critical information on the integration of the various sectors. The advent of the internet and technology has improved communication framework, promoting the activities of the public and private sectors as well as the government. Lack of information on the 9/11 attack exposed the critical infrastructure to vulnerabilities and the eventual loss of life and property. Other sectors such as the emergency service sector, commercial facilities sector and Defense Industrial Base sector rely on the communication sector for intelligence and smooth implementation of activities. Disruption in communication leads to a breakdown in economic performance and vulnerability of the country to attacks due to limited intelligence on terror threats.

Globalization is facilitated by technological advancement and widespread use of the internet. Cybersecurity is a concern that makes the cyber and IT sector vital in the protection of critical infrastructure and key assets. The cyberattack on the power grid in 1977 set the country to social severe unrest and damage to the economy (Troy, 2016). The information technology sector is complex and dynamic, encompassing vital information across all other sectors. The interconnection with other sectors such as health care and public health calls for coordinated private and public sector protection and preparedness. Damage to the cyber and IT sector can lead to the compromise of important information vital for the operation of other sectors like healthcare, energy and communications sectors.

References

Moteff, J. D. (2010). Critical infrastructures: Background, policy, and implementation. DIANE Publishing.

Ramsay, J. D., & Logan, K. G. (Eds.). (2012). Introduction to homeland security. Westview Press.

Troy, T. (2016). Shall we wake the president?: Two centuries of disaster management from the Oval Office. Rowman & Littlefield.