A Day in the Life of Critical Infrastructure
STORY INLINE POST
Imagine waking up in the morning, turning on the lights, and taking a hot shower. You grab your phone to check the weather, the news, and your messages. You make yourself a cup of coffee and toast, and you sit down to work on your laptop. All of these actions may seem mundane and routine, but they rely on critical infrastructure that works seamlessly behind the scenes.
As you get ready to leave your house, you open your garage door and start your car. You drive to work or to run errands, using roads, bridges, and traffic lights that are part of a complex transportation system. You listen to the radio, use your GPS, or call a friend on your phone, all of which depend on communication networks that connect you to the world.
At work, you use a computer, a printer, or a scanner, all of which are powered by electricity and connected to the internet. You communicate with colleagues and clients using email, messaging, or video conferencing, relying on reliable and secure digital infrastructure. You may also use specialized software or equipment that controls industrial processes or equipment, such as pumps, valves, or sensors.
At lunchtime, you visit a restaurant or a grocery store, which depends on a food supply chain that involves transportation, storage, and processing systems. You may also use a credit card, an ATM, or a mobile payment app, all of which rely on financial systems that ensure the safety, speed, and accuracy of transactions.
In the evening, you may go to the gym, the cinema, or a concert, all of which require a secure and efficient energy supply, as well as reliable safety and security systems. You may also need healthcare services, such as a doctor's appointment, a lab test, or a hospital visit, which depend on critical infrastructure, such as medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and emergency response systems.
As you head back home, you may stop by a gas station to fill up your car, which relies on a complex network of oil refineries, pipelines, and storage tanks. You may also stop by a convenience store to buy snacks, drinks, or other essentials, all of which require a reliable and secure retail infrastructure that ensures the availability, affordability, and quality of goods and services.
When you finally get back home, you relax in front of the TV or read a book, using entertainment and media systems that rely on digital and creative infrastructure, such as broadcasting, streaming, and publishing platforms. You may also connect with friends and family using social media, messaging, or voice and video calls, all of which rely on a robust and resilient digital ecosystem that enables communication and collaboration across borders and cultures.
All of these actions and activities, and many more, depend on critical infrastructure that works behind the scenes, often taken for granted, but essential for our daily lives. Critical infrastructure is not only about technology and systems, but also about people, policies, and processes that ensure the safety, security, and resilience of our societies. A day in the life of critical infrastructure is a day in the life of modern civilization, and it is up to all of us to protect and strengthen it for future generations.
Protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks is essential for several reasons. First and foremost, critical infrastructure is the backbone of modern society, and any disruption or damage to it can have far-reaching and devastating consequences. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure can lead to power outages, transportation disruptions, communication breakdowns, financial losses, and even loss of life, as we have seen in recent incidents.
Secondly, critical infrastructure is increasingly interconnected and interdependent, which means that an attack on one system or sector can have a cascading effect on others. For example, an attack on a power grid can affect transportation, healthcare, finance, and other sectors that rely on electricity. Therefore, protecting critical infrastructure requires a holistic and collaborative approach that involves all stakeholders, from government agencies to private sector companies to individual citizens.
Thirdly, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and global, driven by various motives that include financial gain, political or ideological agendas, or state-sponsored espionage or sabotage. The attackers use advanced techniques, such as ransomware, malware, phishing, and social engineering, and they often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated or unpatched systems or human errors.
Finally, protecting critical infrastructure from cyberattacks is not only a matter of risk management or compliance, but also a matter of trust, reputation, and competitiveness. A successful cyberattack on a critical infrastructure can erode public trust in institutions, damage the reputation of companies, and reduce the attractiveness of regions or countries for investment, tourism, or talent. Therefore, investing in cybersecurity and resilience of critical infrastructure is not only a prudent and ethical choice, but also a strategic and economic imperative.