We tend to take the modern world in which we live for granted. Clean water, electricity, communications and even our food arrive to us without delay and we expect it to be there. In the past we did not give much thought to protecting the parts of our country’s critical infrastructure. But that’s changing.
The Department of Homeland Security explains that there are 16 critical infrastructure sectors. These include assets such as energy, transportation, dams and financial services. They are so important to the United States that DHS states, “their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof.”
In an effort to protect these assets, the Obama Administration issued Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21).
Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
The intent of PPD-21 is to, “…strengthen and maintain secure, functioning, and resilient critical infrastructure…against both physical and cyber threats.” The new policy redefined the functions and roles across the federal government.
It also set out to enable better information exchange between the parties involved and set up an integration and analysis function that would aid in planning and decision making.
The Sectors Involved
The challenge will be securing the 16 sectors while not disturbing the delivery of services and goods to citizens. Yet the sectors involved touch all of us in some way on a daily basis. They include the following:
- Chemical
- Commercial Facilities
- Communications
- Critical Manufacturing
- Dams
- Defense Industrial Base
- Emergency Services
- Energy
- Financial Services
- Food and Agriculture
- Government Facilities
- Healthcare and Public Health
- Information Technology
- Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
- Transportation Systems
- Water and Wastewater Systems
The job of securing these sectors will not be easy. PPD-21 explains, “Critical infrastructure must be secure and able to withstand and rapidly recover from all hazards. Achieving this will require integration with the national preparedness system across prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.”
The Bottom Line
Many of these assets are privately owned and may need additional security. As experts in securing and protecting facilities and personnel, American Security Force can consult with your team to create a plan that secures your business, its resources and your employees.
Call us at 877-722-8585 for more information.
