About the Unit
In support of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), OCT's Critical Infrastructure Unit provides infrastructure protection services to help ensure security and resiliency across New York State.
The Unit takes a collaborative approach by working with federal, state, local, and private sector partners to enhance the overall security of the State's most critical assets. This is accomplished through:
- Identifying the State's critical infrastructure;
- Conducting risk and vulnerability assessments; and
- Providing specialized support to infrastructure and first responder communities.
Additionally, Unit members provide support to the State's Emergency Operations Center during drills, exercises, and activations.
What is Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure is the physical and information technology systems and assets that are so vital to the United States and our communities that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on our physical or economic security or public health or safety. The Nation and the State's critical infrastructure provides the essential services that underpin society.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified 16 Critical Infrastructure sectors or industry groupings to frame the protection and resilience of the missions.
The sectors are:
- Chemical
- Commercial Facilities
- Communications
- Critical Manufacturing
- Dams
- Defense Industrial Base
- Emergency Services
- Energy
- Financial Services
- Food and Agriculture
- Government Facilities
- Healthcare and Public Health
- Information Technology
- Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste
- Transportation Systems
- Water and Wastewater Systems
Major Projects and Initiatives
In-Depth, Customer-Driven Risk Assessments
OCT's Critical Infrastructure Unit offers risk and vulnerability assessment services. These services are a vital component to the Division's ability to uphold our statutory obligation set forth in NYS Executive Law, Article 26 §709 (j) to work with local, state and federal agencies and private entities to conduct assessments of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to terrorist attack and other natural and man-made disasters.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Security
New York State Executive Law, Article 26 §713, §714, and §716, mandates DHSES to work with industry and government partners to review three key industry sectors in the State - Energy, Chemical, and Pipeline infrastructure. To inform these reviews, OCT's Critical Infrastructure Unit regularly conducts site visits to industry partners focused on physical and cyber security at critical facilities.
- NYS Executive Law, Article 26 §713 Energy Generation and Transmission
- NYS Executive Law, Article 26 §714 Chemical Storage and Manufacturing
- NYS Executive Law, Article 26 §716 Natural Gas and Petroleum Pipelines
Water Supplier Vulnerability Assessment Reviews
An amendment to NYS Executive Law, Article 26 was enacted on May 11th, 2016. This amendment added a new section, §711-b and set forth DHSES' requirement for the review and analysis of Vulnerability Analysis Assessments for Public Water Systems (PWS) that are subject to the requirements of Public Health Law §1125: Water Supplier Emergency Plans. The Department of Health leads the assessment program with responsibilities for collection, monitoring, and compliance.
Ammonium Nitrate Security Program
New York State's Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 10 §146-F, created the Ammonium Nitrate Security Program, which is an interagency effort to secure and monitor ammonium nitrate sold in New York due to its potential use as an explosive material and volatility when subjected to heat and improper storage. The program is led by New York State's Department of Agriculture and markets (NYSDAM), in conjunction with DHSES and the New York State Police (NYSP).
Request Information
If you would like to know more about the services that the Critical Infrastructure Unit provides, please send us an email at [email protected] This email address is checked during business hours. If this is an emergency please dial 911.