The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ (Cal OES) Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Unit helps protect California’s network of physical and virtual systems that keep our society running. Examples of critical infrastructure include phone networks, roads, dams, power plants, the internet, hospitals, and more.
The CIP works with local, state , and federal governments, along with the private sector, to protect California’s key systems from natural hazards, technical problems like internet disruptions and widespread power outages, and human-caused threats like cyber-attacks or terror threats.
The U.S Department of Homeland Security has defined 16 critical infrastructure areas that are important to the nation. In California, some of these systems are owned or run by the local government.
Reducing critical infrastructure risks requires strong cybersecurity, physical security, and better planning. Stronger security measures can help prevent attacks and reduce their impact.
Protecting the state’s critical infrastructure helps keep Californians safe, and Cal OES recognizes that Californians’ way of life depends on systems that work well and can be trusted.
Californians can play an important role in making the state safer by staying vigilant and remembering “If you see something, say something.”