Introduction /
Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) is a key element of National Security, ensuring the welfare of its citizens and the effective working of the Governments. For these reasons, and the utmost importance of is preservation, there is an increasing interest among all countries in developing effective security strategies that guarantee its operational continuity. While main efforts are still on the physical security arena a new type of threats emerges with strength: the cyberspace. Internet breakthrough and system interconnectivity generalization, among with the growing development of information and communication technologies, (ICT), intertwined more and more with the daily activity in our society have contributed to the gradual growth of virtual threats, intangible but not less dangerous.
Consequently, Critical Information Infrastructure Protection (CIIP) has reached a primary place in every National Security policy, not only because it bears basic goods and services for the functioning of any country, but also because in many occasions it bears up the foundations for the rest of strategic sectors. Private Sector, whether dealing with Critical Infrastructures or not, relies on them both for direct operations and for the efficiency of their internal processes and their own continuity. Public Administration is increasingly dependant of ICT as a basis for its internal operation and for the services provided to citizens, and finally, citizens are gradually introducing them in their daily activities so the protection of infrastructures that provide these services becomes increasingly important.
The omnipresence of the ICT sector and its transboundary and transversal nature has contributed to increase the growth of threats that loom over them. Crime and terrorism have seen a great opportunity on the Internet and have already changed their methods, adapting themselves to this new reality. To be able to face these new threats, and to improve the CII security and resiliency, cooperation and coordination of all involved parties (International organizations, standardization bodies, infrastructure operators and industry) needs to be established.
To build up the basis for this joint work is the main goal of this meeting, organized by the Centro Nacional de Protección de Infraestructuras Críticas (National Centre for Critical Infrastructure Protection -Spanish Ministry of the Interior), CNPIC, in collaboration with the company TB-Security: Creating a discussion space in which public and private organizations both national and international debate about the different issues related to Critical Information Infrastructure Protection, searching for ways of mutual understanding and future collaboration. Framed within the Spanish Presidency of the Minister Council of the European Union, we start a decisive period to promote actions from our country that, within the European frame, boost regional cyber security policies and Critical Information Infrastructure Protection.