The dhs defined critical infrastructure sectors under hspd

Introduction

This lesson will look at the United States’ critical infrastructures and key resources. These include 16 specific sectors identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the HSPD 7 requirements. In addition, the lesson will look at the evolution of the NIPP requirements under HSPD 21.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) is an umbrella term referring to the assets of the United States that are essential to the nation’s security, public health and safety, economic vitality, and way of life. CIKR includes power grids, water treatment and filtration facilities, national monuments, government facilities, telecommunication systems, transportation systems, chemical facilities, and refineries, among others.

Nearly 80% of the nation’s CIKR is owned and operated by the private sector; therefore, the Department of Homeland Security must form significant relationships with private sector partners.

timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster, or other emergency.

The documents objectives included the following (Department of Homeland Security, n.d.): Understanding terrorist threats and sharing information on all threats and hazards
Building partnerships to share security information and put into action the CIKR protection programs Long­term risk management
Maximizing efficient use of resources for CIKR protection
The document identified 16 critical infrastructure sectors in the United States and describes which organization is in charge of sector­specific requirements and objectives, as follows:

Identification of Assets, Systems, Networks and Functions
This would require creating an inventory of assets, networks, and systems, including those that were based outside the United States but linked to U.S. security.

Assessing Risks (Consequences, Vulnerabilities and Threats)
Determining the potential threat (including both direct and indirect consequences) of a terrorist attack or other hazard, especially on known vulnerabilities.

Measuring Effectiveness

This would require CIKR partners to set performance measures to assess progress in the implementation of the programs selected.

Likelihood of negative effect on the public, economy, and functioning of government that is expected if the network is disrupted or destroyed.

Vulnerability

As a part of its core mission, the Department of Homeland Security developed the guide to critical infrastructure and key resources protection at the state, regional, local, tribal, and territorial level in 2008. The purpose of this plan was to clearly define roles and responsibilities for the Department of Homeland Security, federal sector­specific agencies, and other federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.

PPD 21