C-SAW: Critical information infrastructure protection through simplification

Abstract

The importance of Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP) cannot be overlooked, as many critical systems utilise information infrastructures in order to operate. However, should these information infrastructures be targeted by cyber attacks, it would severely affect the effectiveness of many of these critical systems. Attacks on information infrastructures are not be limited to a single geographic location, all nations suffer from a collective vulnerability through interconnection, and as such nobody is immune to cyber attacks. Many nations have created internal structures to manage and react to cyber attacks on their information infrastructure. However, these structures might not always be suitable to deploy in areas where there is no CIIP mechanisms in place. In this paper we aim to present a model for a CIIP structure that will provide protection for critical information infrastructures in a manner that is cost-effective and focused on the gradual, effective deployment of a CIIP structure.