Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Ep 68. Death isn't a manageable risk because we all die someday
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Ep 68. Death isn't a manageable risk because we all die someday
Risk: exposure of someone or something valued to danger, harm, or loss.
New Paper: Critical thinking: exploring the expansion of critical infrastructure
Guest: Dr. Russell Lundberg, Sam Houston State University
Abstract: 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.
Papers Referenced:
* Questioning the Criticality of Critical Infrastructure: A Case Study Analysis
* The Cold War on Terrorism: Reevaluating Critical Infrastructure Facilities as Targets for Terrorist Attacks
* Ep 22: The Fortress Problem is a paradox because defenses create vulnerabilities
David Riedman, PhD is the creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, Chief Data Officer at a global risk management firm, and a tenure-track professor. Listen to my podcast—Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education & Security—or my recent interviews on Freakonomics Radio and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security at riedmanreport.substack.com/subscribe
View all episodes
By David Riedman, PhDRisk: exposure of someone or something valued to danger, harm, or loss.
New Paper: Critical thinking: exploring the expansion of critical infrastructure
Guest: Dr. Russell Lundberg, Sam Houston State University
Abstract: 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.
Papers Referenced:
* Questioning the Criticality of Critical Infrastructure: A Case Study Analysis
* The Cold War on Terrorism: Reevaluating Critical Infrastructure Facilities as Targets for Terrorist Attacks
* Ep 22: The Fortress Problem is a paradox because defenses create vulnerabilities
David Riedman, PhD is the creator of the K-12 School Shooting Database, Chief Data Officer at a global risk management firm, and a tenure-track professor. Listen to my podcast—Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education & Security—or my recent interviews on Freakonomics Radio and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Get full access to Riedman Report: Risk, AI, Education, & Security at riedmanreport.substack.com/subscribe