PPD-21 (Critical Infrastructure and Resilience) was signed by President Obama in February 2013 and remains relevant today. This directive is aimed at identifying and strengthening the security and resilience of the major elements of the United States’ critical infrastructure through systematic preparation for the threats that pose the greatest risk to the security of the nation. PDD-21 reflects the complex issue of productive collaboration between the public and private sectors. It calls for efforts to “address the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in an integrated, holistic manner to reflect this infrastructure’s interconnectedness and interdependency.” The directive covers cyber resilience issues as well under a mandated risk management framework.

The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) of 2013 meets the requirements of PPD-21. It outlines how government and private sector participants in the critical infrastructure community work together to manage risks and achieve security and resilience outcomes.

For this assignment, consider that PPD-21 designates both physical and virtual areas of infrastructure protection and consider the NIPP approach to “partnering for critical infrastructure security and resilience.”

With that in mind, pick one area of Critical Infrastructure. Explain how DHS and Sector Specific Agencies will ensure security of that particular infrastructure and what specific steps they may take to do so. Your paper should be at least three paragraphs, including identification of specific needs for partnering within the public sector (across different tiers of government — federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal [SLTT]) as well as with the private sector. Consider PPD-21, NIPP, and the Sector Specific Plans for critical infrastructure protection.