Homeland Security

PPD-21 (Critical Infrastructure and Resilience) was signed by President Obama in February 2013. This directive is aimed at identifying and strengthening the security and resilience of the major elements of the United States’ critical infrastructure through systematic preparation for the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the nation. PDD-21 reflects the complex issue of productive collaboration between the public and private sectors. It calls for efforts to address the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in an integrated, holistic manner to reflect this infrastructures interconnectedness and interdependency.” The directive covers cyber resilience issues as well under a mandated risk management framework.

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) of 2013 meets the requirements of PPD-21. It outlines how government and private sector participants in the critical infrastructure community work together to manage risks and achieve security and resilience outcomes. In light of PPD-21 designating both physical and virtual areas of infrastructure protection — and also considering the NIPP approach to “partnering for critical infrastructure security and resilience” –, pick one area of infrastructure protection. Explain how DHS will ensure security of that particular infrastructure and what specific steps it may take to do so. Provide your comment on it in at least three paragraphs (1-2 pages), including identification of specific needs for partnering within the public sector (across different tiers of government — federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal [SLTT]) as well as with the private sector.