Critical National Infrastructure
Cutting-edge analysis and comment from the world's oldest defence and security think tank
The Pitt Review: Implications for the National Infrastructure
Dr Sandra Bell examines Sir Michael Pitt’s recent review of last year’s flooding and analyses the implications of its findings for Critical National Infrastructure planning and policy.
Old Interests New Interdependencies - The Increasing Strategic Importance of Energy Pipelines
This article examines strategically how pipelines are becoming a tool to exert geo-political power at a state level, as well as the potential they offer as a high-value target to non-state actors, most specifically terrorist groups such as Al-Qa’ida.
Securing the Critical National Infrastructure
The Home Secretary delivered the keynote address at the annual RUSI Critical National Infrastructure conference. This text is an article formed from his address.
Critical Infrastructure and 21st Century Security
Free AccessDr Sandra Bell looks at how critical assets and services which are split between public and private ownership need to be protected from the threat of 21st century terrorism.
Learning lessons from the 2007 floods: the final recommendations of the Pitt Review
After ten months, an interim report, and additional flood reviews from government and the insurance industry, the Pitt Review has reached its final conclusions.
Strategic Folly: Emergency Rule and the Future of Pakistan
Short-term goals rather than long-term strategy seem to guide the manner and method in which Musharraf's decisions are made
What's in a Name? Changing Critical National Infrastructure
Those sharp-eyed spotters among us who carefully monitor the output of Government websites might perhaps have felt the right to be bemused when confronted with the changing definition of critical national infrastructure (CNI) that has recently emerged.
- Critical National Infrastructure
The Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is both the backbone and the lifeblood of the country. It comprises the assets, services and systems that support the economic, political and social life of the UK. Any disruption, damage or destruction to all or part of the CNI could result in grave consequences for the functioning of government, the economy and society.
Articles
Introduction: protecting the UK's Critical National Infrastructure
Anthony McGee provides an overview of some of the current questions and debates at the heart of this year’s RUSI conference on the critical national infrastructure.
Anthony McGee provides an overview of some of the current questions and debates at the heart of this year’s RUSI conference on the critical national infrastructure.
The CNI: regulatory strengths and weaknesses
Professor Clive Walker examines the way in which the term ‘CNI’ is defined for the purposes of regulation and considers the sufficiency of the current regulatory regimes.
Professor Clive Walker examines the way in which the term ‘CNI’ is defined for the purposes of regulation and considers the sufficiency of the current regulatory regimes.
Utility regulation and the CNI
Dieter Helm explains that at present, the regulation of critical national infrastructure utilities is mainly concerned with keeping prices down to please customers, which leaves little space for the spare capacity and robust security that may be needed.
Dieter Helm explains that at present, the regulation of critical national infrastructure utilities is mainly concerned with keeping prices down to please customers, which leaves little space for the spare capacity and robust security that may be needed.
What is the future for the Critical National Infrastructure?
Sir David Omand stresses the importance of keeping our response to threats in proportion.
Sir David Omand stresses the importance of keeping our response to threats in proportion.
The Pitt Review: Implications for the National InfrastructureDr Sandra Bell examines Sir Michael Pitt’s recent review of last year’s flooding and analyses the implications of its findings for Critical National Infrastructure planning and policy.
Old Interests New Interdependencies - The Increasing Strategic Importance of Energy PipelinesThis article examines strategically how pipelines are becoming a tool to exert geo-political power at a state level, as well as the potential they offer as a high-value target to non-state actors, most specifically terrorist groups such as Al-Qa’ida.
Internet Survivability and Resilience
This article attempts to show that in architecture terms the Internet, though extremely robust because of the sound engineering principles on which it is modelled, has the potential to be severely disrupted.
This article attempts to show that in architecture terms the Internet, though extremely robust because of the sound engineering principles on which it is modelled, has the potential to be severely disrupted.
Securing the Critical National InfrastructureThe Home Secretary delivered the keynote address at the annual RUSI Critical National Infrastructure conference. This text is an article formed from his address.
Critical Infrastructure and 21st Century SecurityFree AccessDr Sandra Bell looks at how critical assets and services which are split between public and private ownership need to be protected from the threat of 21st century terrorism.
Defining critical national infrastructure
Without adequately analysing potential threats, governments cannot defend themselves against man-made and natural disasters. Dr Sandra Bell define critical infrastructure and discusses the steps governments are taking to safeguard it.
Without adequately analysing potential threats, governments cannot defend themselves against man-made and natural disasters. Dr Sandra Bell define critical infrastructure and discusses the steps governments are taking to safeguard it.
Commentary
Learning lessons from the 2007 floods: the final recommendations of the Pitt ReviewAfter ten months, an interim report, and additional flood reviews from government and the insurance industry, the Pitt Review has reached its final conclusions.
The Prospect of a ‘No Hazards’ 2008? A retrospective of things to come.
From attempted mass-casualty terrorist attacks, to cyber attacks, flooding to foot and mouth and bluetongue outbreaks, 2007 was an ‘all-hazards’ year for the UK.
From attempted mass-casualty terrorist attacks, to cyber attacks, flooding to foot and mouth and bluetongue outbreaks, 2007 was an ‘all-hazards’ year for the UK.
Strategic Folly: Emergency Rule and the Future of PakistanShort-term goals rather than long-term strategy seem to guide the manner and method in which Musharraf's decisions are made
Assessing the All Hazards Summer
Whilst summer seems to have come and gone without any real recourse to its default position of hot weather and sunshine, the summer of 2007 will always be remembered as a summer of hazards, a summer of loss.
Whilst summer seems to have come and gone without any real recourse to its default position of hot weather and sunshine, the summer of 2007 will always be remembered as a summer of hazards, a summer of loss.
What's in a Name? Changing Critical National InfrastructureThose sharp-eyed spotters among us who carefully monitor the output of Government websites might perhaps have felt the right to be bemused when confronted with the changing definition of critical national infrastructure (CNI) that has recently emerged.
UK Government Advice on Preparing for Emergencies
The government’s terror advice comes as a sobering thought to those of us who live ‘just-in-time’ lives. The daily activities of a typical family are complex and require split second timing and it is not uncommon that every member of a household are in different towns for large parts of the day. The slight delay of a train or a traffic jam can have severe knock-on effects resulting in panic phone calls to partners, schools and childminders. Just imagine what would happen if you couldn't make those calls because the phone networks had been commandeered to deal with a large scale emergency, or that you had been quarantined awaiting decontamination and was unable to contact anyone.
The government’s terror advice comes as a sobering thought to those of us who live ‘just-in-time’ lives. The daily activities of a typical family are complex and require split second timing and it is not uncommon that every member of a household are in different towns for large parts of the day. The slight delay of a train or a traffic jam can have severe knock-on effects resulting in panic phone calls to partners, schools and childminders. Just imagine what would happen if you couldn't make those calls because the phone networks had been commandeered to deal with a large scale emergency, or that you had been quarantined awaiting decontamination and was unable to contact anyone.
Copyright © 2008 RUSI