Critical Infrastructure Sectors
“Critical infrastructure” refers to the systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United States that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on security, national economic security, national public health or safety, or any combination of those matters.
Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21): Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience defines 16 critical infrastructure sectors, described below.
Chemical
Chemical manufacturing, storage, and distribution facilities.
Commercial Facilities
Sites where large crowds gather for shopping, entertainment, and lodging.
Communications
Telecommunications networks, broadcast media, and internet services.
Critical Manufacturing
Manufacturing industries vital to economic prosperity and continuity.
Dams
Dam projects, navigation locks, levees, and other water retention systems.
Defense Industrial Base
Companies that provide products and services for military operations.
Emergency Services
Law enforcement, fire, EMS, and emergency management organizations.
Energy
Electricity generation, oil, and natural gas production and distribution.
Financial Services
Banking, securities, insurance, and other financial institutions.
Food and Agriculture
Farms, food processing, and distribution networks.
Government Facilities
Federal, state, and local government buildings and facilities.
Healthcare and Public Health
Hospitals, clinics, public health agencies, and medical supply chains.
Information Technology
Hardware, software, IT systems, and internet-based services.
Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
Nuclear power plants, research reactors, and radioactive materials.
Transportation Systems
Aviation, highway, maritime, rail, and transit systems.
Water and Wastewater Systems
Drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.