International perspectives on critical infrastructure: Evaluation criteria and definitions

Abstract

Contemporary society heavily relies on systems that process, store, and transmit sensitive and confidential information. However, defining what constitutes critical assets and how to categorize them presents challenges. In this context, applying criteria for classifying Critical Infrastructures (CIs) is essential to determine their criticality for information owners. This study aims to identify which criteria are used to classify an asset as part of CIs based on data from various nations. The methodology adopted involved analyzing public documents that evaluated the definitions and assessment criteria of CIs from 12 countries and organizations. The study’s results provide a technical understanding of the criteria used to define Critical Infrastructures CIs among the analyzed countries, highlighting a predominance of criteria related to people, social aspects, economic factors, geographic considerations, and interdependencies. These findings indicate a consistent alignment among the studied nations regarding the criteria that define their respective CIs. These findings have practical implications for risk and asset managers, equipping them with the necessary knowledge to apply CI assessment methodologies effectively.