ABSTRACT
Critical infrastructures and key resources (CIKR) sustain citizens’ way of life and are essential for the economy, prosperity, security, and defense of a nation. Damage to just one sector (e.g., energy)—through a natural disaster, accident, technological failure, or act of terrorism-can cause other sectors (e.g., communications, information technology, banking, and commercial businesses) to be harmed, major inconveniences for large population groups, and multibillion dollar economic losses. Because of numerous threats and hazards facing CIKR, and the dependencies and interdependencies of sectors, nations should work with its internal partners (e.g., governments at all levels and the private sector), and those overseas, to plan and implement protection and resiliency for CIKR.
