Criticality analysis of Critical Infrastructures (CI) – developing generic criteria for identifying and evaluating the relevance of CI for society (original) (raw)

Society relies on infrastructure services like information and communication technology, energy, water and food supply, but also on governmental, relief and cultural organisations. Which criteria have infrastructures in common that make them vital for society? Criticality analysis adds to common risk and vulnerability analyses the aspect of evaluation of what is perceived as essential. Criticality is revealed in case of a failure, when services and resources are suddenly not available anymore. Goal of the project KritisKAT at the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance in Germany is the development of generic criteria for identification and evaluation of all Critical Infrastructures (CI). This all-CI approach applies an all-hazard perspective, considering ‘reasonable worst-case scenarios’, interdependency and cascading effects. Acknowledging that full protection against all threats and cascading effects is not possible, the approach will also make use of a resilience perspective. Goal of the development of generic criteria is finding argumentation for the prioritisation of critical infrastructures. Prioritisation of key services is valuable for general risk management activities. Yet, the timely functioning of key CI it is of paramount importance in case of disaster, as Haiti has lately shown once more. The outcome will be recommendations on national level, for public authorities and private operators of CI.