November is Infrastructure Security Month and a time to think about how organizations can contribute to the security and resilience of the U.S.’s essential services and functions, including:

• Instant access to information and communications
• Safe, clean drinking water
• Reliable transportation 
• Agriculture that supplies plentiful year-round food
• Chemical security for plastics, electronics, medicine, and fuel
• Election systems and infrastructure

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) kicked off Infrastructure Security Month by using the theme “Build It In” to remind people of the importance of considering infrastructure security and resilience from design concept through development and implementation. The agency is asking every organization to:

• Remember, if you share risk, you must also share the responsibility to reduce that risk.
• Reevaluate your preparedness plans on securing public gatherings and make sure they are up to date with the latest techniques and tactics.
• Consider ways to make resilience part of the design when upgrading or building new critical infrastructure.
• Help people understand and identify misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracies appearing online related to COVID-19, 5G, election security, or other infrastructure-related issues.

“Everyone has a part to play in protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure,” said CISA Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security Dr. David Mussington. “This month, CISA asks organizations of all kinds to learn about their shared responsibility in critical infrastructure security and how they can ‘Build It In.’” 

Each week will focus on a different aspect based on this theme: 

• Week 1 (November 1-7): Interconnected and Interdependent Critical Infrastructure: Shared risk means building in shared responsibility.
• Week 2 (November 8-14): Secure Public Gatherings: Build in security for mass gatherings starting with planning.
• Week 3 (November 15-21): Build Security and Resilience into Critical Infrastructure.
• Week 4 (November 22-30): Secure Elections: Building resilience into our democratic processes. 

CISA cites the massive shift to virtual and hybrid environments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol and widespread misinformation and disinformation campaigns, climate change, and cyberattacks such as the SolarWinds compromise as events that have highlighted the interconnectedness of critical infrastructure and the need to build in security and resilience. 

To recognize National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month this year, Security magazine had the honor of working with security leaders within the public and private sectors to bring you October’s Special Report — comprised of five different features to be used as best practices and resources to assist critical infrastructure organizations in bolstering their security postures to prevent and reduce the risks of disruptions. All of the following contributing authors provided their subject matter expertise for October’s Special Report:

• Daniel Kaniewski, Managing Director of Public Sector, Marsh McLennan 
• Dr. David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director, Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 
• Scott Aaronson, Vice President, Security and Preparedness, Edison Electric Institute
• Kate Ledesma, Resilience and Policy Manager, North American Electric Reliability Corporation, Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center
• Michael Arceneaux, Managing Director, WaterISAC

To read this Special Report, please visit https://www.securitymagazine.com/emagazine.