Just a little over a year ago, a series of natural gas fires and explosions shook the neighborhoods of Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts. Dozens lost their homes, and thousands more had to find temporary shelter or go without gas and heating for months. The supplier reported the incident was caused by human error. The impact of incidents that interrupt our critical infrastructure is not often at the forefront of our minds, although it is precisely these systems that enable our daily life – from heating and cooling to food refrigeration, transportation, electricity, water, finance or healthcare.
But there are people, who – day in and day out – work relentlessly to keep our lights on. The Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) leads the nation’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure in the United States.
“Our way of life relies on a complex network of physical and cyber systems, all working together in harmony, to defend against critical infrastructure threats, both natural and man-made. Our job is to make sure we stay ahead of the threat curve and provide solutions,” said CISA Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security Brian Harrell.
There are 16 critical infrastructure sectors whose assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, are considered so vital to the United States that their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination thereof. “As our world grows more interconnected, and our infrastructure grows more interdependent with other systems and functions, we must look at our risks from both a cyber and a physical perspective,” Harrell said. “We must always ask the question: Are we prepared to be overwhelmed?”
Recognizing that 85 percent of critical infrastructure assets are estimated to be owned and operat ..
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