ESSAY : Infrastructure Protection, Vulnerability Analysis, and Network Architectures

SUB HEADING ARE VERY VERY IMPORTANT

Case Assignment

Read the required literature and especially review the videos.

Critical Infrastructure Protection Module: Energy Supply Chain

Energy Vulnerability Analysis

Critical Infrastructure: Vulnerability Analysis and Protection: SCADA Structure

SCADA Vulnerability Analysis

Permission granted by Naval Postgraduate School, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, 28JAN11.

Read the required literature, especially National Infrastructure Protection Plan (2009), pp. 76-79; and, Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs), Department of Homeland Security.

Answer the following:

Why are refinery and storage stages more vulnerable than at other supply chain components?
IT-ISAC: Explain what this is and its role in IT and computer products.
“SCADA protection is scattered among governmental agencies and commercial groups.” Give some examples of overlap.

Explain the relationship of National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs). Also, their relationship with Department of Homeland Security.
Explain the function of an SSP; choose a particular SSP and describe its purpose. Also, why did you choose that particular plan?

Assignment Expectations

Length: This Case Assignment should be at least 5-8 pages not counting the title page and references.

References: At least two references should be included from academic sources (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles). Required readings are included. Quoted material should not exceed 10% of the total paper (since the focus of these assignments is critical thinking). Use your own words and build on the ideas of others. When material is copied verbatim from external sources, it MUST be enclosed in quotes. The references should be cited within the text and also listed at the end of the assignment in the References section (preferably in APA format).

Organization: Subheadings should be used to organize your paper according to question.

Grammar and Spelling: While no points are deducted for minor errors, assignments are expected to adhere to standards guidelines of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence syntax. Points may be deducted if grammar and spelling impact clarity.

The following items will be assessed in particular:

Relevance: All content is connected to the question.
Precision: Specific question is addressed. Statements, facts, and statistics are specific and accurate.
Depth of discussion: Student presents and integrates points that lead to deeper issues.
Breadth: Multiple perspectives and references, multiple issues and factors considered.
Evidence: Points are well-supported with facts, statistics and references.
Logic: Presented discussion makes sense, conclusions are logically supported by premises, statements, or factual information.
Clarity: Writing is concise, understandable, and contains sufficient detail or examples.
Objectivity: Student avoids use of first person and subjective bias.

SAMPLE SOLUTION

Safeguarding and enhancing the resiliency of key resources like energy is essential for the security and safety of a nation. Attacks on critical infrastructure could generate cascading implications far beyond the physical location of the occurrence or the targeted sector. In that connection, it is important to evaluate the vulnerability of various sectors in order to develop suitable solutions. This paper will focus on the supply chain vulnerability, IT-ISAC, SCADA protection, as well as the relationship between National Infrastructure Protection Plan and Sector-Specific Plans.

Supply Chain Vulnerability The refinery and storage stages represent the most vulnerable components of the supply chain. First of all, refineries are highly concentrated and delicate. Some are too expensive to be replaced. Similarly, the transmission pipelines that deliver products from the refinery to the storage containers are highly vulnerable because they are delicate…