Week 05: CI Threats and Hazards

Question 1

What are the three types of threats?

Answer 1

1. Human
2. Technological
3. Natural

Question 2

What is a Natural Threat?

Answer 2

Natural disasters, which are expected to increase in frequency and impact CI remains exposed to the forces of Nature

Question 3

What is a Technological Threat?

Answer 3

Disaster from technological failure, which is also expected to increase

Question 4

What is a Human Threat?

Answer 4

The human threat of cyberattacks against CI is also a growing concern

Question 5

What is a hazard?

Answer 5

The harm that something can cause.

The harm can be physical injury, damage to health, property, and/or the environment.

Question 6

What is a threat?

Answer 6

A threat releases a hazard, but a hazard is not (necessarily) a threat.

Question 7

The three interwoven elements of CI are explicitly identified and should be integrated throughout the steps of the framework, as appropriate. What are they?

Answer 7

Physical, Cyber, and Human

Question 8

CI relies on information and communication technology, name five examples.

Answer 8

1. Cyber-physical systems
2. GPS
3. “Smart Cities”
4. Internet of Things
5. Cloud technology

Question 9

How does CI rely on Cyber-physical systems?

Answer 9

A bridge for physical objects to communicate with a computer via a network to perform various functions.

Technology that allows CI owners and operators to improve processes and production providing vital analytics to reduce unnecessary energy expenditures.

Their functions can range from facilitating manufacturing processes that control the flow of gas through a pipeline to monitoring energy usage.

Question 10

How does CI rely on Global Positioning Systems? (2)

Answer 10

1. CI sectors are increasingly at risk from a growing dependency on GPS positioning, navigation, and timing
2. Increasing CI dependency on GPS services creates an increased opportunity for threat actors to exploit this.

Question 11

How does CI rely on Smart Cities? (3)

Answer 11

1. Urban centers that integrate CPS technologies and infrastructure
2. Smart Cities rely on effective networking of computer systems and physical devices
3. ICT infrastructure necessary to support and sustain a Smart City.

Question 12

How does CI rely on the Internet of Things? (3)

Answer 12

1. Use CPS technology as a bridge to connect with higher level services
2. The IoT allows for devices to be controlled and managed remotely
3. IoT will continue to be a key tool in the development of Smart Cities

Question 13

How does CI rely on Cloud Technology? (2)

Answer 13

1. Cloud computing technologies, or virtualized infrastructure, services, and networks, have been increasingly adopted across the CI community
2. Vulnerabilities to attack and exploitation.

Question 14

Which four sectors are likely to be most affected by cybersecurity?

Answer 14

1. Financial Services - confidentiality of data
2. Energy - smart grid technologies
3. Transportation Systems - cloud systems
4. Information Technology & Communications (SCADA)

Question 15

Fill in the Blanks:

The Canadian Infrastructure Report Card (2019) indicated that a __________ amount of public infrastructure in Canada is in _____ condition.

Answer 15

Significant, Poor

Question 16

Name 5 possible root causes of structural failure.

Answer 16

1. Age
2. Structural material
3. Asset design
4. Construction techniques
5. Amount of use
6. Geographic location
7. Maintenance
8. Budgets
9. Urbanization - increased use
10. Demands for service - less downtime tolerance