Terrorism and Geopolitics by Clay Schrader

Author:Clay Schrader [Schrader, Clay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Alpha Editions
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Fight against Terrorism

The potential for catastrophic terrorist attacks that affect critical infrastructures is increasing. The consequences of an attack on the industrial control systems of critical infrastructure could vary widely. It is commonly assumed that a successful cyber attack would cause few, if any, casualties, but might result in loss of vital infrastructure service. For example, a successful cyber-attack on the public telephone switching network might deprive customers of telephone service while technicians reset and repaired the switching network. An attack on a chemical or liquid natural gas facility’s control systems might lead to more widespread loss of lives as well as significant physical damage.

Another type of catastrophic infrastructure failure might be when one part of the infrastructure leads to the failure of other parts, causing widespread cascade effect. Such failure might occur due to the synergistic effect of infrastructure industries on each other. A simple example might be an attack on electrical utilities where electricity distribution was disrupted; sewage treatment plants and waterworks could also fail, as the turbines and other electrical apparatuses in these facilities might shut down.

Cascade events can be very damaging too, causing widespread utility outages. The blackouts in North-America and Europe during the last two years have put in evidence the vulnerability of energy infrastructures and consequently the need to find effective measures to prevent/or to mitigate the consequences derived from a major supply disruption. This use of cyberterrorism could also result in an amplification of the physical attack’s effects. An example of this might be a conventional bombing attack on a building combined with a temporary denial of electrical or telephone service. The resulting degradation of emergency response, until back-up electrical or communication systems can be brought into place and used, could increase the number of casualties and public panic.

Countermeasures to Cyber-terrorism of Critical

Goals of the Special Action Plan

The goal of this action plan is to protect the critical infrastructure from attacks of cyber-terrorism, which have the potential for large impacts on people’s lives and on the economic activities of business using telecommunications networks and information systems. The government, primarily the Cabinet Secretariat, in close cooperation with the private sector, is working hard to implement this plan. In addition, as an objective of this plan, there are efforts to enhance the voluntary, independent participation by the businesses and regional public organizations associated with the critical infrastructure areas in the private sector (hereafter, called private sector critical infrastructure operators). Furthermore, the government will provide the necessary cooperation when the private sector critical infrastructure operators implement the plan.

The Threat of Cyber Terrorism

Many businesses and government activities have come to depend on information systems. It is also expected that there will be an acceleration in the use of information technologies and networking. For the critical infrastructure, like power supply, transportation, and electronic control, information systems also have a crucial role in maintaining public safety and stable supplies of indispensable services for the economic activities of business and the daily lives of the people.

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