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<h2 id="potential-causes-of-infrastructure-failure">Potential causes of infrastructure failure</h2> <p>Critical infrastructure is vital for essential functioning of a country. Incidental or deliberate damage will have serious impact on the economy as well as providing essential services to the communities it serves. There are a number of reasons why infrastructure needs to be heavily secured and protected. </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Terrorism/DHJGPJ6P">Terrorism</a> - person or groups deliberately targeting critical infrastructure for political gain. In the <a href="/facts/2008_Mumbai_attacks/80xFKuq9">2008 Mumbai attacks</a>, the Mumbai central station and hospital were deliberately targeted.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Theft/B2zvPLGA">Theft</a> – person of groups breaking into critical infrastructure sites like electrical substations or telecommunication towers to steal materials or equipment (e.g. <a href="/facts/Metal_theft/aIPpWY2g">metal theft</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Sabotage/R7IXqV4e">Sabotage</a> - person or groups such as ex-employee, political groups against governments, environmental groups in defense of environment. Refer to <a href="/facts/People%2527s_Alliance_for_Democracy/CN60d3nG">Bangkok's International Airport Seized by Protestors</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Information_warfare/sMMLWoeu">Information warfare</a> - private person hacking for private gain or countries initiating attacks to glean information and also damage a country's infrastructure. For example, in <a href="/facts/2007_cyberattacks_on_Estonia/87WdrqTs">cyberattacks on Estonia</a> and <a href="/facts/Cyberattacks_during_the_2008_South_Ossetia_war/YKAW1lPR">cyberattacks during the 2008 South Ossetia war</a>.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Natural_disaster/cCSK2uH0">Natural disaster</a> - hurricane or natural events which damage critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines, water and power grids. See <a href="/facts/Hurricane_Ike/QzU9RzYG">Hurricane Ike</a> and <a href="/facts/Economic_effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina/fNlphFJy">Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina</a>.</li></ul> <h2 id="security-challenges-for-the-electricity-infrastructure">Security challenges for the electricity infrastructure</h2> <p>One of the fundamental foundations of modern society is the electrical power systems. An intentional disruption of electricity supplies would affect national security, the economy, and every person's life. Because power grids and their sources are widely dispersed, this is a challenge for the effectiveness of defensive organizations and structures.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Sabotage can damage electrical sources for the power grid, including civilian nuclear power stations. Sabotage in the form of cyberattacks can create havoc with computer, communication, and information systems, which could severely interrupt the electrical supply. This in turn can cause major disruptions to other infrastructure components of society. Comprehensive defense plans are proposed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p><p>One method is to isolate load systems. Sophisticated defense systems should be wide-area, real-time protection, with control systems that are alerted and guided by sensing technologies. Communication and information must be capably routed.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="remedies">Remedies</h2> <p>Many countries have initiated government agencies to directly manage the security of critical infrastructure usually through the Ministry of Interior/Home Affairs, dedicated security agencies to protect facilities such as <a href="/facts/United_States_Federal_Protective_Service/PwqWKPVE">United States Federal Protective Service</a>, as well as dedicated transport police such as the UK's <a href="/facts/British_Transport_Police/A49qW0wm">British Transport Police</a> and <a href="/facts/Amtrak_Police/vYMXXJrB">Amtrak Police</a> in the United States. </p><p>A number of government organizations focus on infrastructure security and protection. In the USA, the Technical Support Working Group has the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060906004033/http://www.tswg.gov/tswg/ip/ip_ma.htm">Infrastructure Protection Subgroup</a>. The UK has the <a href="/facts/National_Infrastructure_Security_Co-ordination_Centre/xRX3ettM">National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre</a>. </p><p>Critical infrastructure sites may deploy <a href="/facts/Perimeter_intrusion_detection_systems/e1JGXN6V">perimeter intrusion detection systems</a>, <a href="/facts/Video_surveillance/1JCtvSmx">video surveillance</a>, <a href="/facts/Access_control/08zE5Pz8">access control</a> and other <a href="/facts/Security_alarm/btzrpRr9">security systems</a> to detect and respond to intruders and other security events. Meanwhile, maritime and offshore critical infrastructure sites can benefit from the deployment of satellite imagery, sensors, advanced patrol aircraft, autonomous underwater vehicles and anti-drone capabilities, among other solutions.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/National_security/DlmpehRa">National security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Information_warfare/sMMLWoeu">Information warfare</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cyberattack/6PSQzq7y">Cyberattack</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Homeland_security/Uz6ITRXM">Homeland security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Airport_security/drWkCyBv">Airport security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Port_security/GYaqJg72">Seaport security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Supply_chain_security/SGlTvjr4">Supply chain security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Physical_security/zMmzXW4w">Physical security</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/High-voltage_transformer_fire_barriers/0pVFBy2u">High-voltage transformer fire barriers</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Civil_defense/xa73Rr3S">Civil defense</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Paramilitary/mevWLG3M">Paramilitary</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nuclear_security/TtudaSPh">Nuclear security</a></li></ul> <p>US or North American specific: </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/United_States_Federal_Protective_Service/PwqWKPVE">United States Federal Protective Service</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/National_Infrastructure_Protection_Plan/TrVUMYhD">National Infrastructure Protection Plan</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/North_American_Electric_Reliability_Corporation/AtSDgddP">North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.tsa.gov/">US Transportation Security Administration Website</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/security/">UK Department of Transport's Transport Security</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.pcis.org/">Partnership for Critical Infrastructure Security</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"TSA: Highways". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-12-07. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081202052053/http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/highway/index.shtm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081202052053/http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/highway/index.shtm</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Trakimavicius, Lukas. "Required: Sentinels for Europe's Maritime Lifelines". Center for European Policy Analysis. Retrieved 2023-07-26. <a href="https://cepa.org/article/required-sentinels-for-europes-maritime-lifelines/" target="_blank">https://cepa.org/article/required-sentinels-for-europes-maritime-lifelines/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"TSA | Who We Are". Archived from the original on 2008-12-16. Retrieved 2008-12-07. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081216161520/http://www.tsa.gov/who_we_are/index.shtm" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20081216161520/http://www.tsa.gov/who_we_are/index.shtm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Li, Hao; et al. (May 2005). "Strategic Power Infrastructure Defense" (PDF). Proceedings of the IEEE. 93 (5): 918–933. doi:10.1109/JPROC.2005.847260. S2CID 3242429. Retrieved 2009-11-07. <a href="http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-12-30. Retrieved 2009-10-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151230191950/http://www.geocities.com/blohm_r/NYTimes130504.htm/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20151230191950/http://www.geocities.com/blohm_r/NYTimes130504.htm/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Martinez, Michael (8 February 2014). "Sniper fire on Silicon Valley power grid spurs ex-regulator's crusade". CNN. Retrieved 2020-01-27. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/07/us/california-sniper-attack-power-substation/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/07/us/california-sniper-attack-power-substation/index.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Massoud, Amin (April 2002). "Security Challenges for the Electricity Infrastructure (Supplement to Computer Magazine)". Computer. 35 (4): 8. doi:10.1109/MC.2002.10042. <a href="/wiki/Massoud_Amin" target="_blank">/wiki/Massoud_Amin</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Li, Hao; et al. (May 2005). "Strategic Power Infrastructure Defense" (PDF). Proceedings of the IEEE. 93 (5): 918–933. doi:10.1109/JPROC.2005.847260. S2CID 3242429. Retrieved 2009-11-07. <a href="http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Li, Hao; et al. (May 2005). "Strategic Power Infrastructure Defense" (PDF). Proceedings of the IEEE. 93 (5): 918–933. doi:10.1109/JPROC.2005.847260. S2CID 3242429. Retrieved 2009-11-07. <a href="http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.science.smith.edu/~jcardell/Readings/TRUST%20US/IEEE%20Proc%20May%202005/PwrSys%20Defense.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Trakimavicius, Lukas. "Required: Sentinels for Europe's Maritime Lifelines". Center for European Policy Analysis. Retrieved 2023-07-26. <a href="https://cepa.org/article/required-sentinels-for-europes-maritime-lifelines/" target="_blank">https://cepa.org/article/required-sentinels-for-europes-maritime-lifelines/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>