Case Study 1: National Infrastructure Protection Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case Study 1: National Infrastructure Protection Plan     

Amare Alemu

Strayer University

CIS 502: Theory of Security Management

Professor Mark O. Afolabi, Ph.D.

July 26, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Case Study 1: National Infrastructure Protection Plan

Introduction

         The development of a country can be secured when proper infrastructure protection is put in place and managed effectively, efficiently and accordingly. Moreover, the implementation of security system will mainly be based on that country’s National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Firstly, in this paper, the authorities, roles, and responsibilities will be analyzed. Secondly, the paper will analyze how to manage risk. Next, the paper will determine methods for organizing and partnering for CIKR Protection. Further, the paper will ensure an Effective, Efficient Program Over the Long Term. Lastly, the paper will provide a summary of National Infrastructure Protection Plan.

         According to Michael Chertoff, (2009), the author, analyzed that Authorities like the Homeland Security as well as other CIKR protection-related legislation, Executive Orders, Homeland Security Presidential Directives, and national strategies are the sources from which roles and responsibilities emanated. The National Strategy for Homeland Security established the National CIKR vision with a charge to “forge an unprecedented level of cooperation throughout all levels of government, with private industry and institutions, and with the American people to protect our critical infrastructures and key assets from terrorist attack.” Regarding the Roles and Responsibilities, the author added that Department of Homeland Security Under HSPD-7, DHS is responsible for leading, integrating, and coordinating the overall national effort to enhance CIKR protection, including collaboratively developing the NIPP and supporting SSPs; establish and implement comprehensive, multi-tiered risk management programs and methodologies; developing cross-sector and cross-jurisdictional protection guidance, guidelines, and protocols; and recommending risk administration and performance criteria and metrics within and across sectors. Per HSPD-7, DHS is also a focal point for the security of cyberspace. HSPD-7 establishes a central source for coordinating best practices and supporting protective programs across and within government agencies In the directive, the President designates the Secretary of Homeland Security as the “principal Federal official to lead, integrate, and coordinate implementation of efforts among Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector to protect critical infrastructure and key resources.” The Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible for addressing the complexities of the Nation’s Federal system of government and its multifaceted and interdependent economy, as well as for establishing structures to enhance the close cooperation between the private sector and government at all levels to initiate and sustain an effective CIKR protection program. In addition to these overarching leadership and cross-sector responsibilities, DHS and its component agencies serve as the SSAs for 11 of the CIKR sectors identified in HSPD-7 or subsequently established using the criteria set forth in HSPD-7: Information Technology; Communications; Transportation Systems; Chemical; Emergency Services; Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste; Postal and Shipping; Dams; Critical Manufacturing; Government Facilities; and Commercial Facilities. Secondly, according to Michael Chertoff, (2009), the author, the paper analyzed the risk management and discussed that DHS, in collaboration with the SSA and other sector partners, undertakes many protective programs, resiliency strategies, initiatives, activities, and reports that support CIKR protection. Many of these are available to or provide resources for CIKR partners. Next, the author Michael Chertoff, (2009), discussed and determined that methods for organizing and partnering for CIKR Protection. The enormity and complexity of the Nation’s CIKR, the distributed character of our national protective architecture, and the uncertain nature of the terrorist threat and human-made or natural hazards make the effective implementation of protection and resiliency efforts a great challenge. To be effective, the NIPP must be implemented using organizational structures and partnerships committed to sharing and protecting the information needed to achieve the NIPP goal and supporting objectives. The purpose of NIPP-related organizational structures, partnerships, and information-sharing networks is to establish the context, framework, and support for activities required to implement and sustain the national CIKR protection effort. Furthermore, according to Michael Chertoff, (2009), the author, the paper discussed to ensuring an effective and efficient program over the Long Term. The key activities that are needed for achieving this are 1. Building national awareness to support the CIKR protection program and related investments by ensuring a focused understanding of the all-hazards risk environment and what is being done to protect and enable the timely restoration of the Nation’s CIKR considering such threats; 2. Enabling education, training, and exercise programs to ensure that skilled and knowledgeable professionals and experienced organizations can undertake NIPP-related responsibilities in the future; 3. Conducting R&D and using technology to improve protective capabilities or resiliency strategies or to lower the costs of existing capabilities so that CIKR partners can afford to do more with limited budgets; 4. Developing, protecting, and maintaining data systems and simulations to enable continuously refined risk assessment within and across sectors and to ensure preparedness for domestic incident management; and 5. Continuously improving the NIPP and associated plans and programs through ongoing management and revision, as required. According to Sujeet Shenoi, (2017), The critical infrastructure sectors include: information technology, telecommunications, energy, banking and finance, transportation systems, chemicals, critical manufacturing, agriculture and food, defense industrial base, public health and health care, national monuments and icons, drinking water and water treatment systems, commercial facilities, dams, emergency services, nuclear reactors, materials and waste, postal and shipping, and government facilities. Protecting and ensuring the continuity of operation of critical infrastructure assets are vital to national security, public health and safety, economic vitality, and societal wellbeing.

         In conclusion, the paper discussed topics addressed in the introduction one by one. The paper discussed and analyzed the authorities, roles, and responsibilities. Second, the paper analyzed the topic how to manage risk. Next, the paper discussed about determining the methods for organizing and partnering for CIKR Protection. Lastly, the paper discussed the topic of Ensuring an Effective, Efficient Program Over the Long Term.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Chertoff, M. (2009). National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Retrieved on July 23, 2017

          from http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf

Shenoi S. (2017). International Journal of Critical Infrastructure Protection. Retrieved on July        23, 2017 from https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-critical infrastructure-protection/