Critical Infrastructure Protection

"Critical infrastructure" is defined by federal law as "systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters." The Department has identified 18 critical infrastructure sectors, as diverse as food and agriculture, emergency services, transportation and information technology. More about critical infrastructure sectors.

Critical infrastructure provides enormous benefits, services, and opportunities on which we rely, and the Department is very mindful of the risks to this infrastructure posed by terrorists, pandemic diseases and natural disasters. We know that these threats can have serious effects, such as cutting populations off from clean water, power, transportation, or emergency supplies.

Secretary Napolitano is working to raise awareness about the importance of our nation's critical infrastructure and strengthen our ability to protect it. The Department oversees programs and resources that foster public-private partnerships, enhance protective programs, and build resilience to withstand and recover rapidly from the impacts from natural disasters or terrorist threats.

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