Internet Infrastructure Risk Economics Research Issue Brief

Abstract

The U.S. domestic and global economies, and much of their supporting critical infrastructure, are dependent on the internet. While this may seem obvious, public and private sector decisionmakers and defenders are challenged to understand the internet’s vulnerabilities, as well as the natural and manmade threats faced by the internet. These entities also struggle to capture and quantify the likelihood and impact that vulnerabilities and threats to the internet have on the security, stability, and resilience of dependent critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water supplies, communications systems, and financial networks.

This issue brief focuses on raising awareness of the state of affairs regarding internet infrastructure risk assessment and related supply chain accountability. In particular, the brief highlights the role of research and development (R&D) in identifying and understanding the existing and emerging vulnerabilities and threats to internet infrastructure to inform effective internet infrastructure risk management.

Keywords: cyber risk, internet infrastructure, data sharing, cyber economics, critical infrastructure, R&D