This Week in Critical Infrastructure we bring you a variety of articles covering cybersecurity, resilience, and infrastructure investment around the world, including articles on GPS, roadways, business resilience, and much more.
The U.S. Has Forgotten How to Do Infrastructure
In an opinion article for Bloomberg, columnist Noah Smith takes a look at the cost-driving forces that inhibit infrastructure investment in the United States and stand in the way of the U.S. matching the upkeep and upgrade pace set by other developed nations.
Switzerland Again Tops FM Global’s 2017 Resilience Index, But Rankings Have Shuffled
From Syndey Lazarus at Spend Matters, an overview of the newly released FM Global Resilience Index, an annual study of the relative business resilience of nations. Switzerland remains in the top spot, with the Central and Eastern United States rounding out the top ten in the ninth and tenth place positions. Access to the full report is available here.
Research Finds New Hampshire Seacoast Roads Under Rising Sea Level Threat
In this article from Insurance Journal, a new study from the University of New Hampshire has examined the potential damaging effects of rising groundwater levels as a result of sea-level rise. While surface flooding is an oft-examined consequence of rising ocean levels along coastlines, this study explores the possible consequences farther inland.
Expanding the Role of the National Guard in Cybersecurity
From Bobby Shields at the International Affairs Review at George Washington University, a look at the shortage in the U.S. labor market of cybersecurity professionals (currently 209,000 unfilled jobs) and the National Guard’s potentially vital role in addressing the demand/supply gap. Shields argues that the National Guard should continue to expand its cyber units and that DOD should implement an incentive-based structure to recruit and retain cyber talent.
Can Congress Establish a Backup for GPS before It’s Too Late?
In this blog entry from The Hill, contributor Dana Goward looks at a provision in the House version of an upcoming reauthorization bill for the U.S. Coast Guard that would require implementation of a backup system for the current GPS system. The GPS backup, called eLoran, would help protect aviation systems, cell phone networks, and first responder radio systems if GPS were to be disrupted.
States ‘Awaken’ to Critical Infrastructure Cyberthreats
Blake Sobczak and Edward Klump of EnergyWire discusse the growing trend of state legislative action addressing cyber threats to the electric grid. More than 30 pieces of legislation have been introduced at the state level over the past two years despite concerns from the private sector that state action, taken together with existing federal regulations, will lead to harmful over-regulation on the issue.
One Year on, Is Australia’s Cybersecurity Strategy on Track? Experts Respond
From The Conversation, a panel of experts discuss the Australian government’s progress on its national cybersecurity strategy, which was announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in April 2016.