Chapter 5: Strategic Options

Abstract

Advances in information technologies and their adoption in all sectors of modern life are not problem-free. This study examines the negative impact of those technologies on the central infrastructure systems on which societies depend for the delivery of essential services such as communication, electric power, transportation, and on the information systems that enable governments to function and economic enterprise to flourish. The underlying technologies of networked computer hardware and software are susceptible to massive failure. But unlike physical networks that can be engineered to be robust against natural events, random failures and even local sabotage, information systems are particularly susceptible to malicious acts. Attacks can exploit the connections that are a major virtue and failures in one part can propagate widely. This global character of information system vulnerabilities constitutes severe challenges to both national governments and the private owners of such critical systems. This Adelphi Paper examines the national strategies designed to cope with the emerging societal vulnerabilities and offers appropriate roles for both public and private sectors.