|
Definition
Why Critical Infrastructure?
Securing Critical Infrastructure
Definition
The definition of Critical Infrastructure has evolved over time. In one recent definition, the US Government defined critical infrastructures as
"systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters"
The definition of Critical Infrastruture has included the following area, representing a vast segment of the US and world economies:
- Transportation
- Water Supply / Waste Water Treatment
- Public Health
- Telecommunications
- Energy
- Banking and Finance
- Emergency Services
- Government Continuity
- Information Systems
- Agriculture / Food Supply
- Defense Industrial Base
- Chemical Industry
- Postal / Shipping Services
- Monuments and Icons
- Key Industry / Technology Sites
- Large Gathering Sites
Why Critical Infrastructure?
SGP firmly believes that the critical infrastructure market will continue to experience a dramatic increase in security spending. Despite an increased concern for the protection of critical infrastructures, it is uniformly acknowledged that significant vulnerabilities still exist. Security threats are are magnified because large scale security infrastructure failures could result in catastrophic consequences, including loss of life and many billions of dollars in damages.
Securing Critical Infrastructure
We believe that infrastructure organizations will experience high growth in security spending.
These core industries share common characteristics that unite them as an addressable market requiring a unique approach to security. These shared characteristics include a high degree of regulation, intensive capital requirements, extensive decision making and budgeting processes, and perhaps most importantly, a non-standard technical and engineering environment to protect specialized environments, such as supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and other items unique to critical infrastructure organizations. In addition, critical infrastructure systems are large and geographically dispersed and therefore require targeted and scalable products and services. As a result, a high degree of specialization and industry knowledge is required to successfully sell into these markets.
Relatively few vendors have the requisite expertise, technology, and skills to provide effective, integrated solutions.
Traditionally, critical infrastructure organizations believed that because they had closed, proprietary, and isolated systems, they were immune from large-scale damage. Therefore, they relied more on their “built-in” security and less on external products and services. As a result, the critical infrastructure market has historically under-spent on important external solutions. Now, with public attention and increased funds, these critical infrastructure organizations are focused on finding appropriate security solutions.
Securing critical infrastructures requires a vast array of technologies and services, encompassing both physical and cyber security.
|
