Risk Management in Critical Infrastructure.
ANSWER
- should be context-specific. Different security measures may be required for different situations. This implies that risk management strategies should be adaptable and tailored to the specific risks faced by an organization or infrastructure.
- Interdependence of Critical Infrastructures: All critical infrastructures are described as part of an interdependent network that supports each other directly and indirectly. Neglecting certain critical infrastructures can be a mistake, as the failure of one component can have ripple effects throughout the network. This highlights the importance of considering the holistic view of critical infrastructure in risk management.
- Resource Availability: The availability of resources for risk management is emphasized. In developed countries, resource availability may not be a significant issue, but in developing and underdeveloped countries, it can be a major challenge. Adequate resources are required to establish and sustain risk management plans, especially for critical infrastructure.
- Risk Analysis: The purpose of risk analysis is defined as identifying assets, threats to those assets, potential losses due to these threats, and determining how to respond to potential losses. This is a fundamental step in the risk management process.
- References: The text provides references to academic sources, Bobylev (n.d.) and Thomas & Norman (2009), which can be consulted for more in-depth information on the topics of sustainability, vulnerability analysis, and risk analysis.
In summary, the text emphasizes the importance of proactive risk management in the context of critical infrastructure. It highlights the need for context-specific security measures, resource considerations, and the interdependence of critical infrastructures in managing and mitigating risks effectively.
QUESTION
Description
One of the ways to view the concept of risk management is by looking at it as a process. It is a process that entails identifying, analyzing as well as responding to risk factors. Essentially, proper risk management does imply the control of possible future events as well as it should be proactive rather than reactive (Bobylev, n.d.). I can go further and talk about risk management systems, which are designed to do more than just identify the risk. The system must also be able to quantify the risk and predict the impact of the risk on critical infrastructure. Managing risk should therefore be viewed as a continuous process. What is the relationship between countermeasures or mitigations and risk management? To answer I think that in the evolution of our risk management strategy, we should develop context-specific relationships between risk and countermeasure, as different security measures will come into play in different situations. This is where I think the aspect usually comes in. Because of the numerous numbers of critical infrastructures, which vary by nature of definition and operation, there is a chance that some might be neglected. Neglect can be as a result of human tendency to focus on the critical infrastructures that are perceived to more important than others. This is wrong because all critical infrastructures should be viewed as an interdependent network that is designed to support each both directly and indirectly. This is brings in the issue of availability of resources to the relevant agencies that are tasked with effective risk management. For developed countries, the issue of resources is not seen as a problem but for developing and underdeveloped countries, it is a major factor. Take for example, a country in Africa where its source of water for drinking by the people needs a risk management plan that takes into consideration past, present and the ever changing nature of different threats such as terrorism. A lot of resources is required to establish and sustain such a risk management plan. The purpose of a risk analysis is to identify assets, threats to those assets, the potential loss to an organization due to threats, and finally, how to respond to that potential loss (Thomas & Norman, 2009).
References
Bobylev, N. (n.d.). Sustainability and Vulnerability Analysis Of Critical Underground Infrastructure. Managing Critical Infrastructure Risks, 445-469. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-6385-5_26
Thomas, L. & Norman, C. (2009). Risk Analysis and Security Countermeasure Selection. CRC Press.