Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

ROBUSTNESS, RESILIENCE, AND SECURITY OF NATIONAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS

S. MASSOUD AMIN¹

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota

1 NATIONAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SYSTEMS: UNDERPINNING OUR ECONOMY, GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS, SECURITY, AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Virtually every crucial economic and social function depends on the secure, reliable operation of energy, telecommunications, transportation, financial, and other infrastructures. Indeed, they have provided much of the good life that the more developed countries enjoy. However, with increased benefit has come increased risk. As these infrastructures have grown more complex to handle a variety of demands, they have become more interdependent.

The Internet, computer networks, and our digital economy have increased the demand for reliable and disturbance-free electricity; banking and finance depends on the robustness of electric power, cable, and wireless telecommunications. Transportation systems, including military and commercial aircraft and land and sea vessels, depend on communication and energy networks. Links between the power grid and telecommunications and between electrical power and oil, water, and gas pipelines continue to be a lynchpin of energy supply networks. This strong interdependence means that an action in one part of one infrastructure network can rapidly create global effects by cascading throughout the same network and even infiltrating other networks.

A growing portion of the world’s business ...