Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Analysis of CI- Transportation Network

Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Analysis of CI- Transportation Network

The placement of the selected sector in context nationally, regionally, or as otherwise applies.

The transportation sector, as a critical infrastructure, interacts and overlaps with other sectors. These sectors include public health, energy, communications, and security. Within the critical transportation infrastructure, all sectors are dependent on each other for connectivity. The rail, air, water, and road sectors rely on each other for the seamless movement of goods and people (Lewis, 2006).  The CI’s interdependence is exhibited through the effects that each has on the other and the necessity for support from each other. For instance, the security/defence CI provides critical information to the transportation system, which is treated as intelligence. This information is important to the transportation sector’s stakeholders because they can use it to ensure the safety of passengers, links, and goods. Similarly, the transport network requires energy in the form of fuel to function. In turn, the CI’s emissions affect the health of the public and the environment as well. There are several challenges within the transportation sector that could affect integration and interdependence. Security threats can affect the reliability, resilience, and safety of transport networks and interfere with connectivity (DHS, 2007). Such a threat, which happens to be the main one, weighs heavily on the security CI because it is responsible for safeguarding the nation’s security.

Presentation of legal, regulatory, policy-related, and political considerations regarding your selected network.

The Amtrak rail network is challenging due to the diversity of stakeholders. These stakeholders include the government and private sector players. Thus, regulation and policymaking become a daunting task due to the inability to openly share intelligence with all stakeholders. The stakeholders tend to have different challenges, motives, and incentives. These aspects may clash due to a lack of alignment. Therefore, regulating the train network’s security, reliability, and resilience becomes a laborious and time-consuming task that may not achieve the desired end.

Application of a vulnerability analysis tool, methodology, or fault tree.

The Risk Assessment Methodology-Dams (RAM-D) will be used to analyze the Amtrak network’s vulnerabilities. The tool is mainly used in dams’ risk assessment but can also be used in other critical infrastructures. It will enable stakeholders to access information regarding the present threats, quantify these, consequences of attacks, and a cost-benefit analysis of proposed upgrades. It is possible to use the tool to identify the appropriate measures that can be used to reinforce the CI’s resilience. RAM-D requires stakeholders to be consistent in their assessments to ensure that the CI is well reinforced (Harrald, 2004).

Amtrak’s rail network’s most significant threat is terror attacks on more than 100 links or nodes. Due to the scale-free nature of the network, it is necessary to conduct a risk assessment for the different nodes and links independently because each can be attacked individually. The rate of terror attacks in the country has increased since 9/11, making it a national priority for security agencies such as DHS. For instance, 60 per cent of Tennessee’s attacks targeted the transport sector (National Academy of Sciences., 2019). This highlights the heightened risk of terror attacks in an increasingly globalized world, making the movement of individuals easier.

Risk assessment (RA) of at least 1 critical node.

The Amtrak rail network consists of numerous nodes that serve the intercity and transit routes. Due to the inability to select a single station, the risk assessment will assess the transit routes. The transit rail system is interdependent and highly vulnerable to terror attacks. The Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Fort Totten, Stadium-Armory, and Virginia Railway Express Crystal city stations could suffer extensive damage in case of an attack on either. Besides the loss of lives, the five stations would suffer significant loss of infrastructure, rail vehicles, and damage of goods (Capra, 2019). Most importantly, the effect on the economy would be significant due to service interruption. The lack of sufficient screening of luggage is a major risk to the stations’ safety.

Recommendations for mitigation.

Transit routes carry the greatest risk for terror attacks, especially in metropolitan areas. Therefore, sensors that detect explosive materials would be necessary to avert the threat. The major stakeholder, the government, should consider investing in an automated security system that offers 24/7 surveillance. The hazardous material that is often transported using rail should be moved through less populated areas to minimize the effects in case of explosions (Capra, 2019).

Conclusion

The process of securing the entire rail network is a real challenge. It is an ongoing process that takes time to deliver results. The nature of significant threats can allow stakeholders to get comfortable. However, the intensity during attacks depends on the cumulative actions and strategies for prevention or mitigation. The process of updating the security system is important. However, it should be accompanied by training and maintenance. Thus, the government should find a way of involving other stakeholders in the entire process and aligning their goals.

 References

Capra, G. S. (2019). Protecting Critical Rail Infrastructure.

DHS. (2007). Transportation Systems.

Evey, L. (2001). DOD News Briefing on Pentagon Renovation [Interview transcript]. U.S.  Department of Defense.

Harrald, J. R. (2004). Review Of Risk-Based Prioritization/Decision-Making Methodologies For Dams. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.367.1996&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Lewis, T. G. (2006). Critical Infrastructure Protection in Homeland Security: Defending a Networked Nation. John wiley & Sons.

Moteff, J. (2005). Risk Management and Critical Infrastructure Protection: Assessing, Integrating, and Managing Threats, Vulnerabilities and Consequences. The Library of Congress. Retrieved from https://sgp.fas.org/crs/homesec/RL32561.pdf

National Academy of Sciences. (2019). Critical Issues in Transportation 2019. Retrieved from https://www.nap.edu/resource/25314/criticalissues/

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Part 2: This is where the attached Key Assignment Outline FINAL DRAFT IP5 from VIII. will be utilized.

KEY ASSIGNMENT FINAL DRAFT IP5:

Below are the instructions for the Key Assignment (KA), the outline of which was due during Week 4 and the final version, due in Week 5. All of the elements are required for the final KA.

Vulnerability Analysis and Risk Analysis of CI- Transportation Network

Content

For your Key Assignment, be sure to include the following content:

-Cover the sector, network, and assets that you selected earlier and referenced throughout the term. your final, refined version should address the following:
-Discuss the placement of the selected sector in context nationally, regionally, or as otherwise applies. This context should also include discussion of related or overlapping critical infrastructure (CI) sectors that are also relevant to your selected network. Consider any issues or factors pertaining to networks, integration with, or dependence upon other sectors, sector-centric challenges, and so forth. What you choose to include is indicative of your thorough and intelligent approach to covering this requirement.
-Include your research and presentation of legal, regulatory, policy-related, and political considerations regarding your selected network that, if not precisely real-world, are realistic and reasonable as influences on CI prioritization and resource allocation. This portion will expressly employ applied research methodologies.
-Utilize the full application of a vulnerability analysis tool, methodology, or fault tree to analyze your selected network and to identify critical nodes, capabilities, and assets.
-Include a complete risk assessment (RA) of at least 1 critical node, identified through your conduct of a vulnerability analysis. This RA model may use an existing tool, be designed by you, or reflect a hybrid of models. The RA will consider threats, vulnerabilities, costs, and risks and identify the most significant among these.
-Provide comprehensive recommendations for mitigation, prevention activities, and devices to strengthen protection and resiliency of the network and its assets.
-Apply an existing, self-designed, or hybrid model of a resource allocation model to make recommendations on how resources should be applied toward the protection and resiliency of nodes and assets.
Your Key Assignment must include the addition of the following:
-Give recommendations for future public- and private-sector initiatives in effecting protected and resilient CI, drawing on lessons gathered from completing this network analysis and extending these lessons to a larger CI context.
-Identify and explain potential solutions to mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities you assessed for your asset.
-Draw conclusions about the remaining challenges for your network or asset.
-Refine your entire product so that it would be suitable for a homeland security (HLS) manager’s use.