CNI: Critical National Infrastructure

Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), or sometimes just referred to as Critical Infrastructure, is any service which assists in the function of communities.

CNI typically includes the following industrial sectors:

  • Energy

    • Electricity, including nuclear and renewables

    • Oil, Gas, Coal

  • Water

    • Drinking water

    • Waste water

  • Transport

    • Road

    • Rail

    • Air

    • Water

Other sectors are sometimes included in CNI, including:

  • Healthcare

  • Financial sector

  • Telecommunications

  • Emergency services

  • Agriculture

  • Critical manufacturing, such as pharmaceuticals and chemicals

As such a critical service is critical to society by very definition, they are a target for APT groups.

CIP: Critical Infrastructure Protection

The acronym CIP is used for Critical Infrastructure Protection. It is typically for the safety and security (not just cyber) of Critical National Infrastructures (CNI).

In the United Kingdom, the physical safety and security of CNI is looked after by the CPNI. The cyber security aspects of CNI are looked after by NCSC in the UK.