Critical thinking: exploring the expansion of critical infrastructure

The concept of critical infrastructure (CI) has evolved significantly across developed nations since the early 2000s, with the United States providing a particularly illustrative example of this global trend. Initially focused on assets whose incapacitation would cause debilitating national impacts, the U.S. framework expanded after September 11th, 2001 to encompass a broader array of sectors and assets, diluting the meaning of criticality. Even among the most vital lifeline sectors— energy, communications, water, and transportation—analysis reveals that the resilience of these systems often precludes national-level consequences from isolated failures. To address these issues, CI policy should transition from viewing assets as inherently critical to evaluating their criticality in relation to systemic risks posed by specific threats. This shift would enable more effective prioritization, focusing resources on protecting assets most vulnerable to realistic, high-impact scenarios while reducing the inefficiencies of over-inclusiveness. By re-centering the concept of criticality, CI policy can better align with its original intent of safeguarding national security and resilience.