Critical Infrastructure and National Planning
This paper will analyze the findings of the yearly statement issued by the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) under the U.S Department of Homeland Security. A detailed description of the different national planning approaches tackled in the yearly statement as well as explaining the integration into the path of the various elements of protecting, mitigating, responding, and recovering. The annual statement for 2019 analyzed how to incorporate technology into the vital infrastructure. Additionally, the report discussed how cybersecurity could be improved. The primary purpose was to enhance collaboration and ensure the sharing of critical information. Furthermore, this report focuses on having enhanced channels of communication between various entities to make sure that there is adequate cyberspace security.
The following are the main issues contained in the Cipac Plenary Executive Summary report 2019:
- Increasing the Federal government’s ability to sharing vital information with other infrastructure partners.
- Collaborating with state and Federal government stakeholders in the identification of places within the nation where stakeholders who have been cleared can obtain crucial security information.
- Making follow-ups on the trainees and participants of the Active Shooter training program and supporting the development of active shooter programs by the operators.
- Evaluating the sellers’ level of awareness of explosive materials.
- Comparing notes on the global best practices and assessing the success of the same in the various crucial infrastructure sectors.
- Continued information sharing as well as collaboration with partners in the National Infrastructure Defense Plan.
- Evaluation of the success of regional initiatives.
The secretary also addressed the threat posed by global terrorism and its transformation in the last 20 years. In the previous 20 years, terrorism has been transformed from being the massive- scale target attacks to the small-scale attacks. Consequently, the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has increased its vigilance on domestic extremist violence supported by foreign terror entities that use the internet to bankroll terrorists. The need to continue countering these foreign terror threats was DHS to plan in the years to come. In the U.S, the main task of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is intercepting plans by terrorists to attack the U.S. Also; the State Department collaborates with overseas stakeholders to control the movement of suspected terrorists. Most of the critical government buildings have heightened their security levels. The Department of Homeland Security works with significant sports associations in the U.S to foster people’s awareness and levels of alertness to terrorist attacks in the country.
DHS has responded to these threats by launching several security strategies resulting from the amendment of the National Transport Air Security requirements on the issuance of security alerts. The current system has increased the level of vigilance and alertness because DHS can issue reports that describe the signs of possible attacks to the public even when a specific threat is absent.
Public and Private sector presence
Through these meetings, government entities and operators, owners, or representatives of vital infrastructure got the opportunity to interact and share critical information. Different sectors have recorded an increase in the acquisition of information that is vital for the analyses of threats. The private sector critical infrastructure owners, operators, and representatives lauded the DHS on availing of real-time data on possible terrorist attacks. The need for continued collaboration between DHS and the critical infrastructure owners and operators was emphasized. Furthermore, it was noted that sharing information on suspected on-line criminal activities can help in analyzing and authenticating such activities. This would, in turn, permit the leaders of different sectors to involve the Federal government in strategic talks on several issues that affect them. The problems may deliberate possible alterations in the accessibility of the vendors because of the social and political environment.
Success and Asset protection techniques
The Department of Homeland Security has succeeded in the enhancement of security in easy targets such as sporting arenas, shopping malls, and educational institutions. This was achieved by renewing and increasing departmental attention by collaboratively relying on its abilities. The technique used in protecting assets in soft targets includes utilizing the knowledge of corporate security experts and the available resources. This change resulted from the shift in the nature of threats. Similarly, CISA’s risk management drive has succeeded by focusing on vital infrastructure in terms of assets and institutions. The approach has helped CISA to address the risks that cut across both the sector and the system. The experts in the industry provide informed input and determine how risks to critical national infrastructure are managed. The technique used in managing risks to critical national infrastructure involves relying on the expertise within the sector to offer direction on managing these risks. Additionally, CISA collaborates with other partners to analyze the risks, comprehend threats, vulnerabilities, and the ramifications that can impact the national critical functions.
Conclusion
Reliance on individual partnerships instead of developed processes is the leading cause of the lack of information sharing. These meetings offer a platform to develop strong relationships between different entities that have the skills and knowledge to create structures that can successfully address issues of cyberspace security and terrorism. Furthermore, the close working relationship between the FBI and the private sector has increased the level of vigilance and security awareness. This partnership has also enabled the public to identify the various forms of violent domestic extremism and internal terrorism threats.
Reference
cipac plenary executive summary 2019. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cipac-plenary-exec-summary-2019-508.pdf
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