Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
must be known to evaluate the vulnerabilities of the assets to threats or adversar-
ies. In addition, operating procedures and other sensitive information, which if
available to adversaries might jeopardize critical assets, must be identified as their
availability can also affect the vulnerabilities of assets.
Physical Security Systems
Physical security systems are used to protect energy facilities and their assets from
unauthorized individuals and outside attacks. Such systems usually include perim-
eter barriers, building barriers, intrusion detection, access controls, and security
forces.
Infrastructure Interdependencies
Today's energy facilities depend on many different infrastructures to support their
critical functions and assets. These infrastructure interdependencies must be identi-
fied and the adequacy of security measures that are in place to protect and back up
these infrastructures must be evaluated. Typically, these supporting infrastructures
include
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Electric power supply and distribution
◾
Petroleum fuels supply and storage
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Natural gas supply
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Telecommunications
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Transportation (road, rail, air, and water)
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Water and wastewater
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Emergency services (fire, police, and emergency medical)
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Computers and servers
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Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
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Fire suppression and firefighting systems
◾
SCADA systems
The electric power supply and distribution infrastructure can include the
local electrical distribution utility, facility-operated electric generation equip-
ment, backup generators fueled by natural gas or petroleum fuels, uninterruptible
power supplies (UPSs), and the associated switching and distribution hardware.
The petroleum fuels supply and storage infrastructure includes on-site storage as
well as local suppliers, storage terminals, and the entire petroleum industry. The
telecommunications infrastructure includes commercial telephone, fiber optic, and
satellite networks and facility-owned radio, telephone, microwave, and fiber-optic
pathways. Computers and servers, HVAC systems, fire suppression and firefight-
ing systems, and SCADA systems tend to be operated by the energy facility and,
in turn, depend on the other infrastructures such as telecommunication, electric
