Strategic Guidance by DHS for Improving Security and Resilience of U.S. Critical Infrastructure (2024-2025)
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided comprehensive strategic guidelines for increasing the security and resilience of the country's vital infrastructure in the years 2024–2025. This program, directed by Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, focuses on the complex risk landscape created by technological breakthroughs and global volatility. Protection of electricity grids, water systems, transportation networks, healthcare institutions, and communication networks is emphasized as critical to public safety, economic stability, and national security. These systems' increasing interconnection, as well as their reliance on global technologies and supply lines, leave them vulnerable to a wide range of dangers, including cyberattacks, physical sabotage, climate change, and geopolitical unrest. This guideline expands on the recommendations of National Security Memorandum-22 (NSM-22), which established a two-year risk management cycle centered on the identification and mitigation of critical infrastructure threats at various levels.
One of the top concerns is to fight cyber threats from the People's Republic of China (PRC). The US Intelligence Community has emphasized the PRC's ability to launch cyberattacks on defense vital infrastructure and other crucial systems. To address these vulnerabilities, the advice recommends that federal agencies, state and local governments, and private sector partners use timely intelligence, adopt best practices, and improve coordination. This involves creating plans to address cross-sector and regional interdependencies, assisting the Department of Defense's resilience initiatives, and improving intelligence and information sharing throughout the community.
The developing threats and opportunities afforded by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies are also given major attention. To address AI as a disruptive technology, proactive steps are required, with sector-specific risk assessments and DHS guidelines incorporated into larger risk management strategies. While addressing new dangers, the guideline acknowledges that AI and future technologies can provide new tools for improving the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.
Another major concern is the vulnerability of the supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the repercussions of outsourcing substantial parts of essential supply chains, emphasizing the importance of balancing resilience and efficiency. Potential interruptions caused by rail strikes and violent attacks on vessels highlight the urgency of rebuilding and reviving strong American supply lines. The DHS Supply Chain Resilience Center will spearhead efforts to assess and mitigate possible disruptions, collaborating with a variety of partners to identify and address risks.
Climate concerns have been identified as a critical component of US national security. Climate-related concerns, such as extreme weather, sea-level rise, and wildfires, need incorporating climate considerations into resilience strategies. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes historic investments to rebuild and safeguard infrastructure, and DHS will ensure that these investments are used to create resilience to all risks.
The guidance also tackles the rising reliance on space systems and assets, such as GPS and satellite communications, which are vital to many infrastructure sectors. Protecting these systems from risks such as hackers and space debris is critical. The DHS will work with the Space Systems Critical Infrastructure Working Group to prioritize and mitigate space-related hazards.
To effectively manage these and other risks, critical infrastructure stakeholders must implement scalable risk mitigation strategies. Building resilience to endure and recover quickly from all risks and hazards is critical. Setting baseline security and resilience criteria for critical infrastructure owners and operators is also vital, in keeping with frameworks such as the CISA Cybersecurity Performance Goals and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Furthermore, rewarding service providers to follow secure-by-design principles might help to minimize cybersecurity responsibilities, especially for small and medium-sized organizations.
Identifying locations of concentrated risk and systemically important businesses is critical to effective risk management. Understanding dependencies within and within sectors, such as the Water and Wastewater Systems Sector's reliance on the Chemical Sector, can assist guide mitigation measures. The guidance asks for a coordinated strategy, led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), to meet these priorities via the National Infrastructure Risk Management Plan, which will replace the 2013 National Infrastructure Protection Plan. Collaboration among federal, state, municipal, tribal, and territorial governments, corporate sector partners, and other stakeholders is crucial for protecting critical infrastructure and national security.