Critical Infrastructure Protection in Homeland Security: Defending a Networked Nation [Hardcover]

Ted G. Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 21, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0471786284 | ISBN-13: 978-0471786283

A scientific approach to the new field of critical infrastructure protection


This book offers a unique scientific approach to the new field of critical infrastructure protection: it uses network theory, optimization theory, and simulation software to analyze and understand how infrastructure sectors evolve, where they are vulnerable, and how they can best be protected. The author demonstrates that infrastructure sectors as diverse as water, power, energy, telecommunications, and the Internet have remarkably similar structures. This observation leads to a rigorous approach to vulnerability analysis in all of these sectors. The analyst can then decide the best way to allocate limited funds to minimize risk, regardless of industry sector.

The key question addressed in this timely book is: What should be protected and how? The author proposes that the answer lies in allocating a nation's scarce resources to the most critical components of each infra-structure--the so-called critical nodes. Using network theory as a foundation, readers learn how to identifya small handful of critical nodes and then allocate resources to reduce or eliminate risk across the entire sector.

A comprehensive set of electronic media is provided on a CD-ROM in the back of the book that supports in-class and self-tutored instruction. Students can copy these professionally produced audio-video lectures onto a PC (Microsoft Windows(r) and Apple Macintosh(r) compatible) for repeated viewing at their own pace. Another unique feature of the book is the open-source software for demonstrating concepts and streamlining the math needed for vulnerability analysis. Updates, as well as a discussion forum, are available from www.CHDS.us.

This book is essential for all corporate, government agency, and military professionals tasked with assessingvulnerability and developing and implementing protection systems. In addition, the book is recommended for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students studying national security, computing, and other disciplines where infrastructure security is an issue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...excellent for use as a text in information assurance or cyber-security courses...I strongly advocate that professors...examine this book with the intention of using it in their programs." (Computing Reviews.com, March 22, 2007)

"The book is written as a student textbook, but it should be equally valuable for current practitioners...this book is a very worthwhile investment." (Homeland Security Watch, August 17, 2006)

From the Back Cover

A scientific approach to the new field of critical infrastructure protection

This book offers a unique scientific approach to the new field of critical infrastructure protection: it uses network theory, optimization theory, and simulation software to analyze and understand how infrastructure sectors evolve, where they are vulnerable, and how they can best be protected. The author demonstrates that infrastructure sectors as diverse as water, power, energy, telecommunications, and the Internet have remarkably similar structures. This observation leads to a rigorous approach to vulnerability analysis in all of these sectors. The analyst can then decide the best way to allocate limited funds to minimize risk, regardless of industry sector.

The key question addressed in this timely book is: What should be protected and how? The author proposes that the answer lies in allocating a nation's scarce resources to the most critical components of each infra-structure—the so-called critical nodes. Using network theory as a foundation, readers learn how to identifya small handful of critical nodes and then allocate resources to reduce or eliminate risk across the entire sector.

A comprehensive set of electronic media is provided on a CD-ROM in the back of the book that supports in-class and self-tutored instruction. Students can copy these professionally produced audio-video lectures onto a PC (Microsoft Windows® and Apple Macintosh® compatible) for repeated viewing at their own pace. Another unique feature of the book is the open-source software for demonstrating concepts and streamlining the math needed for vulnerability analysis. Updates, as well as a discussion forum, are available from www.CHDS.us.

This book is essential for all corporate, government agency, and military professionals tasked with assessingvulnerability and developing and implementing protection systems. In addition, the book is recommended for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students studying national security, computing, and other disciplines where infrastructure security is an issue.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 486 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Interscience (April 21, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471786284
• ISBN-13: 978-0471786283
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #210,381 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, but not for the feint of heart, April 24, 2008

By 

T. J. Lindberg (Ft. Leavenworth, KS) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Critical Infrastructure Protection in Homeland Security: Defending a Networked Nation (Hardcover)

I am in the military and have an engineering background. I have also been conducting research that is closely related to the topic of this book for the past few years and this is a sacred text to me! If you are looking for a laundry list/ cookie cutter approach to a very complex problem, you probably don't want to buy this book. However, even though it is rather technical (the author has a background in computer science and mathematics, so as long as you do your homework on the author, this shouldn't surprise anyone), one can skip the technical discussion on optimization techniques, reliability theory, and network (critical node) analysis and still follow the plainly written examples without a loss of continuity. I just wish our policy-makers adhered to the guidance contained within the pages of Dr. Lewis' book on a more consistent basis... Bottom line: Find the "critical nodes" in an infrastructure sector (which Lewis helps you do) and apply resources (time, people, $$$) accordingly (Lewis also helps you do this).

15 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars CIP in Homeland Security, November 5, 2006

By 

M. Pickette "Mykime" (Midwest) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Critical Infrastructure Protection in Homeland Security: Defending a Networked Nation (Hardcover)

I wish there was a score lower than 1 star to give.

First of all, let me say that there is valuable information in this book, if you are willing to sift the chaff for wheat.

However comma this book (as is admitted in the forward) was only written so the author could keep his job. And it shows.

The author contradicts himself, is overly complex when explaining things (why explain it to the reader when you can use overly difficult math instead?), and doesn't even provide answers to the questions posed in the end of chapter sections. When I say doesn't provide them, he wouldn't even give them to his publisher, I checked.

So, if you have the time to sift and decipher, this is the book for you, If not then I would recommend that you keep searching elsewhere for CIP information, my friend.

3.0 out of 5 stars An okay book on CIP, but lacks many things, April 21, 2010

By 

Britton J. Holdaway (Boise ID) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Critical Infrastructure Protection in Homeland Security: Defending a Networked Nation (Hardcover)

I used this book for a graduate course through the University of Washington. I purchased it new and used the CD in the back for my class. The course's reading schedule did not comprise the whole book (excluded some two or three chapters), but covered enough of it that I feel justified in posting my opinions about it here.

First, the book is in strong need of an editorial review. Grammatical errors and contradictory statements run throughout the book. It seems as though the material was put together rather quickly and little to no effort was spent giving it a professional appearance or delivery.

Second, the author fails to provide sources for many of the things he includes in the book. (To give him credit, all quotes and direct references were given citations.) I can handle a lack of sources to an extent, but have a difficult time accepting that a Computer Scientist has the requisite knowledge of, say economics, to pontificate and exrapolate his books principles across multiple fields of study. Also, the lack of sources means that the author left his book without any anchors for context in the greater scheme of critical infrastucture protection, homeland security, and emergency management.

Third, the questions at the end of each chapter are in need of a *serious* overhaul. Not only are they incredibly ambiguous, but there were several instances where the answer to a question was found in a succeeding chapter. I have no problem with questions referencing material already covered, but it goes against reason to ask questions regarding material that has not yet been covered.

Fourth, the programs provided on the CD, and which are meant to aid the student in applying the principles of the book, are buggy. (Which is interesting, considering the author is a computer programmer ... but anyway.) Once again, it seems as though the author was more interested in putting the book on the shelves than on ensuring that his material was coherent, cogent, and professionally finished.

Now for some positives:

The overall premise of the book is sound. For those with any familiarity with the government's funding mechanism vis-a-vis homeland security, the author's argument for identifying and hardening CI hubs is extraordinarily poignant. Looking past all of the book's faults, and they are many, government officials would do well to learn from Lewis's call for more scientific rigor in how the country goes about protecting itself.