Assignment:
Blake Midnight
In week's forum we are taking a closer look at the energy, dams, and nuclear reactors, materials, and waste sectors. In particular we are looking at their unique characteristics and the risks associated with them. It will be easiest to break them out one at a time.
The Energy Sector, listed in Presidential Policy Directive 21 as an enabling function for all other sectors, because without it none of them could complete their mission. It is said that CI sectors and modern society as we know it, would come to a halt within a single month with a disruption of the supply of energy (Lewis, 2014). The power grid in which the energy sector transports power to people all around our country, presents a unique risk. Currently there are several organizations that work towards protecting the grid from cyber-attack. All of them working towards a similar goal but with improper communications and objectives. A study done by MIT said that the vulnerabilities to the power grid would mitigated with one agency in charge leading the way.
The Dams Sector, produces power (Roughly 6% of national use), protects U.S. citizens from flooding, and controls irrigation for farmland. There are more than 90,000 dams in the U.S. and most are privately owned and managed by state dam safety offices (Dams Sector, 2018). Some dams are in very remote areas and this presents a unique risk. These dams out on their own heavily rely on communications networks for operation and control if those are disrupted the dam may not be able to run properly.
Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector provides power to millions of Americans and produces medical products used to treat cancer. Currently there are 99 active power plants and 31 research and test facilities. It should be mentioned that in the 60 years this power has been harnessed there has not been a single civilian causality (Nuclear Reactors, 2017). A unique risk tied to this sector occurs during the transfer of nuclear material. Safety measures must be taken to ensure the protection of workers from harmful contamination and separate measures must be taken to protect against theft.
A couple of the readings this week pointed to nationalizing or unifying the power transmission grid. It seems there are too many players in the game and without one clear voice providing oversight and direction, vulnerabilities are amplified. As I am pretty new to this whole field, for now I'm going to trust the literature or professor has put before us and say that unifying the grid is the best thing we can do to secure these sectors.
Reference:
Dams Sector. (2018, April 05).
Lewis, T. G. (2014). Critical infrastructure protection in homeland security: defending a networked nation.
Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector. (2017, July 11).
Kaitlin Johnson
Discuss the unique characteristics and risk landscape of the Energy, Dams, Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste sectors. How should the public and private sectors be coordinated to assist in securing these sectors?
The Energy Sector is perhaps one of the most influential critical infrastructure sectors in the nation. According to the Department of Homeland Security, threats posed to this sector include physical and cyber security threats, aging infrastructure and workforce, climate change, and space weather incidents. It is vital for the sector to respond well to these threats due to the fact that many other infrastructures, such as transportation, communications, hospitals, and water systems rely on energy sector capabilities (2015). Another risk to the sector involves technology, and Adhikari states that the increase of communicating electronic devices will lead to new attack options, ranging from loss of control over grids to blackouts and loss of communication between control centers and utilities (2011). It is imperative that public and private sectors work together to safeguard the Energy Sector. There are programs in place between government, SLTT, private, and regional levels to ensure effective incident response and planning. The DOE collaborates with energy operators, owners, universities, and operators to improve the capabilities of cybersecurity. Information sharing and assessment between sector entities is also vital (DHS, 2015a).
The Dams Sector supplies irrigation to 10 percent of the nation's croplands and supplies 60 percent of the electricity in the Pacific Northwest. This sector faces many risks, including structural issues resulting from erosion, natural disasters, climate change, and physical or cyber attacks. In addition, population growth and deteriorating infrastructure is leading to higher risks and vulnerabilities. The Sector Specific Plan outlines the importance of collaboration between public, government, and private sectors. It is necessary for public-private partnerships to be improved to ensure information sharing and coordination. The identification of threats and the development of response plans, as well as continuous learning, is also stressed (DHS, 2015b).
The risks found in Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sectors have the potential to be both catastrophic and life threatening. The DHS states that risks include the shutdown of power reactors, new construction of power reactors, the aging of power plants and equipment, natural disaster/climate change, a shrinking amount of medical isotope suppliers, changing power supplies, aging power grids, and cyber threats. An incident at a major facility could lead to personal and property damage, as well as long-term consequences. The public and private sectors strengthen security in these sectors by planning and executing response exercises, conducting cross-sector planning workshops, establishing response centers, implementing a National Source Tracking System, and creating guidelines for the mitigation of cybersecurity risks (2015c).
References
Adhikari, Richard. (2011). Power Grid Cybersecurity: Who's in Charge?. Tech News World.
Department of Homeland Security. (2015a). Energy Sector Specific Plan.
Department of Homeland Security. (2015b). Dams Sector Specific Plan Fact Sheet.
Department of Homeland Security. (2015c). Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sectors Specific Plan.