For this month’s installment of the Office of Emergency Management’s Part of the Plan video series, we look at Critical Infrastructure and Cyber Safety. November is not only Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month but also the kick-off of the holiday shopping season with Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday.
by Ryan Ford | Homeland Security Program Manager, OEM November 23, 2016
When I hear November, I immediately associate the month with Thanksgiving. Many others think of the day after, Black Friday, soon followed by Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. It is the official kickoff to the holiday shopping seasons. So what better theme for this blog than cyber-security and what better time than “Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month”? Yes, it’s a thing. It even has its own website.
So what is critical infrastructure and why does it have it’s own month? Well, the first part I can answer…the second part I defer to DHS for an explanation. Think of critical infrastructure as all the man-made technology you use every day without giving a second thought. Plumbing, electricity, transportation systems (sore subject – I know), public safety, communications, and the list goes on. There are actually 16 critical infrastructure sectors in total. Together, they allow you to work, play, travel, use social media, order pizza, and shop, shop, shop. In short, it’s everything that keeps us from falling back into an 1890’s standard of living.
So what should you know about critical infrastructure security and resilience?
- First, the City of Philadelphia, the Office of Emergency Management, and our private sector partners take it very seriously. Imagine what a power outage does to public transit or how valuable clean water is to hospitals, nursing homes, and your home. A failure in one piece of infrastructure has the potential to cause cascading effects in many other areas.
- Second, critical infrastructure is an area of continued success of public-private partnerships. Private companies own over 85% of critical infrastructure. Government at all levels and private sector infrastructure providers have an arranged marriage and with good cause. At the local level we (OEM) participate in work groups and committees, provide guidance, and safeguard information to help ensure these companies operate safely and without interruption.
- Third, while OEM and many other partners keep a watchful eye on critical infrastructure, there is a role for you, the private citizen, to play during Critical Infrastructure Security & Resilience Month.
- Last and not least, Cyber Safety is something that we not only preach on a personal level, but to businesses in our READYBusiness presentation. For the mom-and-pop shops that make up Main Street USA, every penny matters, so learning how not to become a victim is important.
‘Tis the Season for Cyber Shopping: internet commerce and communication is sure to spike. Access to the internet is a key component of our communication infrastructure and cyber-attacks pose a growing threat. The staff here at OEM are always encouraging you to be prepared. This month, commit to being safe and smart on the internet. Shop, conduct business, and share your memories online…but, please, think before you connect.
For more information on how you can protect yourself and your family online, visit the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop, Think, Connect site.
If you are a victim of a cyber scam, the FBI has resources for you including how you can file a complaint.
A simple yet essential way to be prepared is to stay informed. Get emergency alerts from OEM’s ReadyPhiladelphia program sent to your phone or email to keep you informed prior to and during an emergency.
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