The National Classified Information Infrastructure Protection Council (NCIIPC) was established in 2014 to protect classified government information and CII information. This agency works with the private and public sector to address the security gap and promote CII protection. It operates under the Information Technology Act, 2000, section 70A. Its work is overseen by the Prime Minister’s office.

CII’s inter-dependencies

The CII is a complex system that involves many different parts that work together to meet a variety of needs. Some of these parts are purely CI, while others are cross-border and highly interdependent. The inter-dependencies of CIs have led to a variety of risks and vulnerabilities, and the need for a systemic approach to their protection has become critical.

The critical information infrastructure includes the real and virtual assets, processes, and information systems that are essential to society. These systems are interconnected, and if they are compromised, the consequences can be severe. These systems include the public telephone network, Internet, and terrestrial and satellite wireless networks. A disruption to any of these components will have a profound impact on societal functions.

The CII concept has been framed to address the inter-dependencies of critical infrastructure. However, it is important to note that this term is different from CIP, which is a broader umbrella term for critical infrastructure protection. In fact, CIP refers to the entire critical infrastructure sector and CII is a subset of this larger effort. Many countries recognize this relationship and have implemented legislation that focuses on protecting the critical information infrastructure. For example, the Czech Republic has passed the Act on Cybersecurity in 2014.

CII’s protection

The CII Regulation will pave the way for protection regimes for CIIs. It is essential for companies in sensitive industries to stay updated on the new rules, as well as evaluate whether their own information systems are susceptible to CII classification. This guide will outline some of the key requirements for CII recognition.

CII’s protection includes multiple security measures and secure backups. Backups are stored both on and off-site, and managed by professional technicians. The CIIP Recommendations also address the risks of cyber attacks. In 2016, the OECD released a guideline for national strategies to protect CII.

In addition to implementing the CIIP programme, ICT regulators should adopt a proactive cybersecurity posture and seek to obligate CII operators to abide by minimum security requirements and international standards. ICT regulators should consider setting up sectoral CSIRTs to provide technical support and incident response management. Regulators should also consider formal communication channels to exchange information in times of crisis.

CII’s protection from hackers

Protecting critical information infrastructures (CII) from cyberattacks requires a systematic approach and ongoing implementation of new security solutions. This requires a joint effort between the owner organizations and cloud providers. In some cases, the responsibility for protecting the CII resides with the state, while in other cases, the owner organizations are responsible for protecting the CII directly.

In response to the growing cyber threat, the People’s Republic of China issued the Critical Information Infrastructure Security Protection Regulations, effective September 1. The Cybersecurity Law of 2016 has made it mandatory for critical infrastructures to be protected by the state. This is a significant step, but there are still many challenges ahead.

The concept of CII and CIP is often confused. While CIP covers all sectors of a country’s infrastructure, CIIP focuses on the measures that are necessary to secure the critical information infrastructure. Countries such as the Czech Republic and Canada have adopted national strategies and regulations that recognize the connection between CIP and CIIP.

CII’s protection from disruption

Improving CII’s protection from disruption is a key challenge for governments and the private sector. Governments must work with operators of Critical Information Infrastructure to coordinate their incident response capabilities, and CII operators must also have an internal incident response plan to ensure continuity of operation. Some countries have implemented national cyberexercises and early warning networks to improve CII resilience. However, enhancing CII resilience is complicated by governance issues and is not always a simple task.

The global interconnectivity of CII makes it a popular target for hackers and malware. Disruptions in CII can affect everyday lives of citizens, economic activity, and public services, and can threaten national security. As such, protecting these networks from disruption is essential to maintaining their resilience and preventing widespread harm.

Companies should strengthen their monitoring, emergency response, and cyber-security capabilities and cooperate with cybersecurity inspections. If a company has already been identified as a CII operator, it is crucial to meet its obligations under the CII Regulations as quickly as possible. Companies that are expected to be identified in the future should also be aware of the requirements of the CII Regulations.