FORMS OF SECURITY PART III

FORMS OF SECURITY PART III

In the two previous units, we have discussed some of the basic forms of security including computer security, information security and physical security. To complete our task, we shall be explaining some other forms of security in this unit, which will include infrastructure security, seaport security, airport security, food security, and a host of other forms of security. Before we go into the nitty-gritty of these, let us quickly look at the objectives of this study.
At the end of this unit, you should be able to: Describe the meaning of infrastructure security; Discuss what seaport security is all about; Elucidate on the meaning of airport security; Explain food security; Define health security; Clarify the meaning of economic security; Examine what environmental security denotes.
3.1 Infrastructure Security
Infrastructure security can be described as that aspect of security designed purposely to provide protection for specific infrastructure particularly those infrastructure considered critical. The examples of critical infrastructure may include airports, sea ports, railway, network communications, hospitals, the Central Bank, dams, and oil refineries among others. Highways and bridges are also an aspect of critical infrastructure (://www.tsa.gov/travelers/highway/index.htm). Due to the importance of these infrastructures on the lives and overall wellbeing of the people, it is paramount to provide adequate security for them and immune them against any threat or attack. Take for instance, if the dams or water systems that supply water to all households in a community are poisoned, you can imagine how many lives will be lost due to that attack. So, every government is expected to make efforts to equip infrastructure considered critical with enough security in order to avoid disaster. Another example is where the airport is not well secured and there is no doubt that there is tendency for it to be easily attacked by terrorists or saboteurs. If an airport or seaport is considered porous, it will be easy for enemies to bring into the country harmful and destructive materials that can undermine the security of that country. Nonetheless, this shows how important it is to provide adequate security for infrastructure. It is a matter of fact that any damage intentionally or accidentally done to critical infrastructure will have far-reaching effect on the economy and overall security of a country. For instance, the continued destruction of gas pipes often disrupts level of power supply in the country with serious consequences on the power generation capacity of the Power Holden Company of Nigeria (PHCN). Threats which can damage infrastructure basically include the following (which shall be discussed extensively later in this course):
 Sabotage;
 Terrorism;
 Natural disaster; and
 Information warfare