TABLE OF CONTENTS In February 2003, DHS published The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets, which outlines national goals, objectives, and principles to help physically secure critical infrastructures. The success of the strategy is dependent on steps that public and private entities across the country will take to improve security. This chapter examines the implications of this strategy for IT managers responsible for securing and maintaining IT assets and facilities as well as providing IT support to departments that are responsible for providing physical security, disaster-recovery planning, and business-continuity planning. Areas covered include the following:
Identifying critical national-infrastructure components
Treating security improvement as a process
Leveraging technology for security at a national level
Applying the national strategy at the organizational level
The security-improvement process in the organization
Leveraging technology for security at an organizational level
Integrating the organizational and national strategies
It is essential to identify and assure the protection of critical infrastructures. It is also necessary to provide a timely warning system that can help assure the protection of those infrastructures and assets that face a specific or imminent threat. The National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets calls for cooperation between government, industry, and private citizens and is designed to protect the following:
Agriculture and food
Water
Public health
Emergency services
Defense industrial base
Telecommunications
Energy
Transportation
Banking and finance
Chemical industry and hazardous materials
Postal and shipping
National monuments and icons
Nuclear power...
