Have you ever wondered what keeps our country’s essential services running smoothly? How do we protect these vital systems from cyber threats? This blog will explore U.S. critical infrastructure: The cyber threats they face and the solutions to combat them.
The critical infrastructure of the United States is a complex and multifaceted network that includes distributed systems, diverse organizational structures, multinational ownership, and interconnected functions spanning both physical and cyber realms. This infrastructure operates under multiple levels of authority, responsibility, and regulation. Owners and operators are crucial in managing risks to their operations and assets and in developing strategies to improve security and resilience.
Critical infrastructure encompasses a wide range of sectors, including:
🔹Energy (power grids, oil, and gas pipelines)
🔹Transportation (airports, seaports, highways, railways)
🔹Water (dams, treatment plants, distribution systems)
🔹Healthcare (hospitals, clinics, medical supply chains)
🔹Communications (internet, phone networks, broadcast media)
🔹Finance (banks, stock exchanges, payment systems)
🔹Food and Agriculture (farms, processing plants, distribution networks)
🔹Government facilities (military bases, courthouses, prisons)
Threat Landscape – Understanding Risks to Critical Infrastructure of USA #
The threat landscape surrounding critical infrastructure has undergone a substantial transformation since the issuance of PPD-21, transitioning from a focus on counterterrorism to addressing strategic competition and technological advancements like
🔹Artificial Intelligence
🔹Malicious cyber activities orchestrated by nation-state actors
🔹The imperative for heightened international coordination.
These shifts, coupled with increased federal investment, necessitated an update to PPD-21, leading to the creation of the National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience.
Published on April 30, 2024, by the White House National Security Council (NSC), the NSM represents a comprehensive framework to ensure the robustness and innovativeness of U.S. critical infrastructure. It aims to fortify the nation’s economy, safeguard American families, and bolster collective resilience against potential disasters.
