The Importance of Communications As a Critical Infrastructure Essay

Tags: communications homeland security energy integrity stakeholders risk management public health telecommunications responsibility safety

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Published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2003, authored by President George W. Bush, The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets is the first document of its kind. After September 11 and the creation of the DHS, swift action was taken to synergize national security efforts and interests. The National Strategy redefines the meaning and definition of critical infrastructure and key assets, offering guidance to individual sectors for risk management, risk mitigation, information sharing, and more (Erbschloe, 2004). Moreover, the National Strategy takes into account the diversity of its audience, recognizing that a large number of stakeholders in critical infrastructure and key assets are in the private sector. This means that the Department of Homeland Security plays a more active role now in monitoring any critical infrastructure or key asset, whether in the public or private domain.

Anything that pertains to national security—from water and food supplies to telecommunications and transportation networks—falls under the rubric of this document. The position of the Department of Homeland Security and the White House is that responsibility and accountability are to be distributed across all industry sectors (Bush, 2003). Of course, communications infrastructure is mentioned as one of the critical infrastructures in the United States.

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Communications are to be “interoperable,” as well as “secure,” both those that pertain to the public and private sectors (Bush, 2003, p. xi). Moreover, Bush (2003) suggests standardizing communications and networking protocols to promote interoperability (p. xii). Communication is defined by interconnectedness. Securing communications infrastructure means protecting the actual physical landscape: the two billion miles of cable and other tangible resources too (Bush, 2003, p. 9). Yet communications security also means the continual upgrading of resources to maintain information security and ensure clear, rapid, secure communications.

In the National Strategy, communication is also framed as a multifaceted concern that spans all industries, agencies, and sectors. Commercial activity, information sharing, and public health and safety all depend on secure and reliable communications infrastructure. Therefore, all stakeholders have a responsibility to maintain their own network integrity, to remain committed to information sharing and honesty, and also to overall interconnectedness and collaboration with key partners (Wortzel, 2003). Because so much of the telecommunications landscape is privately owned and operated, the National Strategy outlines the roles and responsibilities of the private sector to homeland security. The National Strategy takes a systems approach to homeland security by showing that all domains and sectors are interdependent….....

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References

Bush, G.W. (2003). The national strategy for the physical protection of critical infrastructures and key assets. https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/Physical_Strategy.pdf

Erbschloe, M. (2004). Implementing homeland security for enterprise IT. Digital Press, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-55558-312-5.X5000-5

Moteff, J. & Parfomak, P. (2004). Critical infrastructure and key assets. CRS Report for Congress. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/RL32631.pdf

United States Department of Homeland Security (2015). Communications sector-specific plan. https://www.dhs.gov/publication/nipp-ssp-communications-2015

Wortzel, L. (2003). Securing America’s critical infrastructures. The Heritage Foundation. https://www.heritage.org/homeland-security/report/securing-americas-critical-infrastructures-top-priority-the-department

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