The events of September 11, 2001 involving terrorist attacks on the United States (US) leading to the deaths of many beloved people revealed vulnerabilities in US critical infrastructure and the accompanying horrific consequences. This paper discusses security of key infrastructure considering that potential threats are not restricted to preventable aggressive actions like terrorism but also includes the ruinous vagaries of mother nature especially storms and floods. Undeniably, prevention as well as mitigation of all forms of disasters, man-made or otherwise, requires the integration of efforts of all stakeholders, from the individual to the state, including private agencies, who are also greatly affected by such events. More specifically, business continuity planning (BCP), public-private sector collaboration and interagency training can help private agencies prepare for events affecting critical infrastructure by providing relevant information, resources and greater disaster prevention and management capabilities. Well, let us see the contribution of BCP in the protection of critical infrastructure.
Basically, BCP provides greater disaster prevention and management capabilities necessary in CIP. Generally, Giacchero, Giordano & Schiraldi (2013, p. 3545) indicate that BCP entails prevention, response, management and recovery from fallouts of an incident or a disruptive event which is achieved through greater resilience in terms of design, a recovery as well as contingency plan. These processes indicate a comprehensive set-up instituted for the protection of critical infrastructure which does not only aid in prevention of adverse events but also embodies elements of recovery preparedness and contingent measures to ensure continuity in operations. The capabilities are further enhanced by the processes involved in business impact analysis (BIA). As identified by Bandyopadhyay (2000, p. 17), BIA assesses potential fallout due to adverse events in relation to priorities for disaster management and maintenance of operations which factors in elements such as critical time estimates for total failure, associated costs as well as legal ramifications, among other aspects.
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BIA merits espoused includes identification of the most vulnerable functions, anticipated major losses, prioritization of recovery and continuity efforts as well as restoration of critical functions coupled with cost-benefit analyses and evaluation of legal issues involved and enhancing well-informed decisions on best overall recovery strategies. This shows the comprehensive and in-depth considerations that prevention and management of disruptive events by private agencies entails which seems to leave no stone unturned towards CIP; hence BCP’s importance. Considering the positive potential of BCP, can it be enhanced in another way? May be through public-private sector collaboration?
Wolff & Koenig (2010, p. 2) assert that the private sector will be ‘the first line of defense against the next man-made or natural disaster’ and governments should actively consider integration of private sector entities in the protection of critical infrastructure and the country. This is because the private sector ‘owns and operates most of national, state and local infrastructure and key resources’ required in disaster management (Wolff & Koenig, 2010). Greater public-private sector partnerships including incorporation of BCP and engagement in planning, among other factors, will enhance the collaborative effort (Tishuk, 2007, p. 389). Information sharing and analysis is one area that the private sector can help with, in CIP as well as efforts in resource allocation and response integrations. As encapsulated by Wolff & Koenig (2010, p. 6), the ‘industry is in a better position to recognize its own vulnerabilities, recommend resiliency strategies, deploy technology, implement protective measures and hopefully do so in a cost-effective manner’. Despite slow progress in private-public partnerships in information-sharing, identified as a vital capability that the private sector can provide, recommendations provided by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) (2012, p. 2-5) reflect the great potential of private-public partnerships in CIP. It is important to understand who the private sector is, their contributions and what the next step should entail for CIP; which is the gist of the next paragraph.
Fundamentally, the private sector includes private companies, communities as well as individuals whose major contributions are information dissemination and volunteer efforts in disaster management. This means that the next step will require interagency preparation and training in CIP. Morreale (2004, p. 2-4) avers that community and business leaders and neighborhood groups should be enlisted to assist in disaster management as they are highly capable of making a difference in a shortage of government manpower. Alongside helping in disaster management, communities and individuals are identified as pivotal in aiding to prevent potential disasters by providing relevant information to law enforcement about suspicious events in the community, hence better CIP (Morreale, 2004, p. 6-7). Relatedly, effective joint agency preparation and training should be founded on various key components including coordinated leadership, better communication and detailed planning, among others. Other key components towards this endeavor include formulation of appropriate training and exercises, provision of adequate resources as well as their effective management and provision of appropriate incentives for infrastructure protection to private sector stakeholders. Additionally, establishment of public-private initiatives such as the Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs) provides a platform in which the collaboration efforts will take place. Before summarizing the topic, it is important to consider whether these measures will help in avoiding another 9/11 scenario.
In summary, it is evident that BCP, public-private sector collaboration and interagency preparation and training towards greater CIP has the potential to aid in avoidance of another devastating 9/11. This is because these elements serve to provide relevant information, resources and greater disaster prevention and management capabilities that are essential not only for disaster prevention and CIP but also in enhancing homeland security’s overall capabilities. All in all, it is incumbent upon us as citizens to realize the roles we should play in CIP as well as the protection and prosperity of our homeland.
